The Instituto de Historia Argentina y Americana, directed by Guillermo Furlong, gives us in this volume an analysis, summary, and index of two journals which, though shortlived, were important in the nation’s cultural history: El Plata Científico y Litererio (Buenos Aires, 1854-1855) and Atlántida (1911-1913). The author makes brief lucid comments introducing an index of the contents of the two journals.
El Plata Científico y Literario had a small circulation, probably no more than 300 copies, on both sides of La Plata, and it lasted less than two years. But it published notable discussions of legal theory and medical articles. Among its writings on political economy were translated and transcribed articles of Federico Bastiat, Benjamin Franklin, and J.(i) Gamier (on paper money). In literature the contributors were romantics such as Miguel Navarro Viola, Miguel Cané (padre), Tomás Guido, and Juan María Gutiérrez. The government of the Confederation subscribed to thirty copies for free distribution.
If El Plata Científico y Literario was a product of the generation which overthrew Rosas, Atlántida is just as clearly a product of the end of the century generation. Edited by David Peña, it was intended to serve the intellectual interests of the interior, as against Buenos Aires. It is a great cultural expression, including the works of some of the outstanding historians, novelists, and poets of the early twentieth century.
