This translation of Historia de la cultura en la América Hispánica (México, 1947), (reviewed in HAHR, May 1948, 239-40), will help to meet the growing demand by English readers for penetrating commentary on broad aspects of Latin American culture. The translator has successfully bridged this span between cultures by adding numerous notes designed to bring the work up to date, to clarify references that might puzzle an American reader, and to point out English translations of works cited. Further, Chase has edited the unpolished text of Henríquez Ureña and placed some long lists of writers and works in footnotes. The new thirty-one-page bibliography of books in English, listed by country and topic, will be a valuable guide for the nonspecialist. The most important added feature is the final chapter, entitled “The Approximate Present [1945-1965],” in which the broad focus of the original eight chapters is applied to the years since 1945 with authoritative observations on architecture, painting, and music.
The addition of an extensive topical index to supplement the “Biographical Index” would have increased the usefulness of the manual, and a consistent procedure for indicating dates, titles, and translations would have improved many passages. Chase’s reasons for omitting some paragraphs and footnotes of the original are not apparent.
The “Translator’s Preface” states that the text was prepared for a course, “The Cultural Heritage of Latin America.” “A concise survey of the historical development of Hispanic American culture from a humanistic point of view, neither overemphasizing nor neglecting political, economic, and social factors, was needed” (p. v). This Concise History provides in condensed form, now easily accessible to the English reader, information and commentary on the intellectual and aesthetic maturation of Latin America. In addition to being an excellent textbook, it will appeal to readers interested in establishing an acquaintanceship with the cultural history of Latin America.
