The Latino Reader: Essential Anthology of Hispanic Books and American Literature – Five Centuries of Voices

by Harold Augenbraum (Editor), Margarite Fernandez Olmos

"Compelling and enlightening" ( Booklist ), The Latino Reader covers nearly five centuries of an important American literary tradition in this groundbreaking anthology featuring a wide range of Latino voices.

"Makes evident that works in Spanish have always been with us, helping to define and move American culture forward."—Nicolás Kanellos, founder and director of Arte Público Press

With a broad and intriguing range of Latino voices and perspectives, from Cabeza de Vaca's mid-sixteenth-century writings to contemporary works from Cristina García and Sandra Cisneros, Harold Augenbraum and Margarite Fernández Olmos have collected history, memoirs, letters, essays, fiction, poetry, and drama into this essential anthology.

Featuring work by writers not usually associated with the Latino tradition, notably poems by William Carlos Williams and fiction by John Rechy, The Latino Reader serves to highlight the substantial contribution this culture has made to American literature.

Genres: History, Literature, Latinx, Nonfiction

528 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 1997

Reviews

[Seneca · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for class, lots of short stories and snip-its of longer works from latino authors. most were really enjoyable!

[Gary Patella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains excerpts from a large variety of works by Latino/a authors. I enjoyed a lot of the excerpts given, and in quite a few cases, I believe I will get the full books from where some excerpts were taken.

There are only two issues which, once mentioned, will show that there is only one real issue. The first issue, which is not truly an issue, is that because these are excerpts, any story that sucks you in ends in a disappointing incomplete feeling. The 10 or 15 pages of a novel for instance, may grab you but then leave you wanting more. But as this is probably the point of the book (i.e. to get readers to want to read some of these works), this is not a true issue.

The second issue, which I do find an issue, is the large amount of poetry selections. Let's all face the truth that no literary professor wishes to admit: more than 95% of poetry just plain sucks, in any language! So when they introduce you to a new author, and mention that this person wrote a few novels, a lot of philosophical essays, some historic works, and some poetry, it is far too often that out of all of those choices, they decide to include 2 or 3 shitty poems rather than one of the essays or an excerpt of prose.

This selection process, of giving priority to poems far too often when the author has written a lot of prose, is the only reason I have to deduct a star. All in all, this book is definitely worth reading.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great and important read. I felt a sense of pride, inspiration, and appreciation when reading many of these works

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent anthology of Latino/a literature. I was required to read this for a class, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading pieces from authors that I had heard of, but hadn't read before. A good introduction to Latinix literature.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, informative and beautiful stories. A collection of stories from Latino writers.

[S.]

Latino Literature class textbook.