This is a valuable addition to the field of Chilean bibliography. It is the first serious work of its kind that deals exclusively with the published writings of priests and religious personnel who have lived in Chile during the past four centuries. The index of authors is quite imposing: 307 secular priests, 414 regular clergy, and 15 members of religious congregations of women. There are, in addition, 149 titles by anonymous writers, 135 of which are credited to members of religious orders. The great majority of these men and women—668 to be exact—belong to the period since 1800. They include not only native Chileans but also foreign-born missionaries and educators who worked in Chile during part of their lives. Thirty-four distinct religious groups are represented by one or more entries. The Jesuits top the list with 123 identifiable authors. The Franciscans are second with 76, and the Mercederians third with 45. The Dominicans, surprisingly enough, have only 29 names on the roster, ranking behind the Augustinians and the Capuchins who have 33 and 31 respectively.
The number of titles listed—approximately 5,000 in all—may appear small in view of the extensive time span involved. It should be noted, however, that these titles refer almost entirely to printed books and pamphlets. Very few journal articles have been included. Had they been, the record would have been considerably more impressive.
Books of a devotional character and treatises on philosophical, moral, and theological topics figure prominently in the bibliography. This is to be expected. Of greater significance are the numerous entries referring to secular themes: geography, economics, mathematics, physical sciences, local history, national history, diplomacy, astronomy, sociology, ethnology, scientific explorations, anthropology, civil controversies, legal problems, and so forth. Biographies, short stories, dramas, literary essays, anthologies, collections of poems, and travelogues appear with refreshing frequency. Dictionaries and grammars of native languages constitute another important category of scholarly achievement.
The plan of the book is exceedingly simple. The authors are listed in alphabetical order. Following each name is a brief biographical sketch, one of the most valuable features of the book. Then come the titles of individual publications, complete with bibliographical data but devoid of any critical annotations. The volume concludes with an inventory of source materials and two helpful indices.
The book has a value quite distinct from its utility as a source of useful information. For many years, particularly during the nineteenth century, there was prevalent in Chile, as elsewhere, the conviction that the clergy did little if anything to advance the general level of scholarly achievement. As far as Spanish America was concerned, this belief was a popular continuation of the charges of obscurantism which had been leveled against the Church for several centuries. It is only in relatively recent times that a more detached point of view has contrived to rectify the record at least in part. The present volume is a welcome testimony to the merits of this revisionary approach.
Because of its specialized character, this volume will necessarily be of interest to bibliographers, professional researchers, and reference librarians. It should enjoy a leading position in its particular field for many years to come.
