This bibliography provides a mountain of materials on a problem that American scholars have given only recent attention to. It underscores the fact that few in the United States have considered the magnitude of communism in Latin America.
Furthermore, this work indicates the lines along which future work can be done. For example, the speeches and writings of communist leaders like Prestes, Codovilla, Ghioldi, Lombardo Toledano, and Castro constitute archives of sorts.
Although, the bibliographical data cited are for the period since 1945, they nevertheless illustrate that communism did not spring up with Guatemala (1951) and Cuba (1959). The problem is four decades old. Future supplements promise to provide titles for the 1920’s and 1930’s.
The work contains hundreds of entries in seventy-three pages. Each country and its bibliographical data is listed. After a section containing general works on communism in Latin America, each country’s works are then divided into three categories: government publications, books, and articles.
In general, the number of entries by country is in proportion to the length and intensity of the problem of communism there.
No pretense is made that the bibliography is exhaustive, but it is more than suggestive. Other materials not included that bear importantly on communism would be the communist press itself. In Brazil alone there are over twenty dailies and thirty weeklies published by the party. Imprensa Popular is the mouthpiece of communism in Brazil. A listing, by country, of the communist newspapers would be of great value.
Nevertheless, this work is the best guide so far. Its supplements should be equally as valuable and welcome.
