This volume, product of both observation and research, is an effort to provide “understanding” of the Latin American historical heritage and the contemporary personality of Latinos. In the words of the author, it is an “offering on the altar of inter-American friendship.”
The 344 pages, divided into four sections sweep from pre-Roman Spain to present day banking in Latin America. The first section, “Cultural Blueprint,” provides a historical sketch of Spain, its peoples and institutions, and a discursive interpretation of the Spanish psyche. Section two, “The Foundations,” covers the background of the American civilizations, the transfer and adaptation of Spanish institutions, the movements for independence, and a cursory outline of the major political issues during the nineteenth century.
Throughout, the author commendably emphasizes those facets of the historical inheritance which seem visible today. “Social Structure,” section three, is devoted to convenient generalizations on Latin American class divisions, attitudes, beliefs, practices, and other cultural idiosyncracies. The fourth and last part, “Intellectual and Economic Life,” deals with education, arts, ethics, and contemporary commercial practices, and, in addition, provides well-intentioned advice for the ingenuous traveler. At the end of the book there is an appendix which lists countries, their size, population, capital city, national hero, average life span, and the most common association —e.g., Uruguay, “free education,” Dominican Republic, “Where Columbus rests.” There is also a general bibliography, as well as a brief listing of references at the end of individual chapters. The bibliography might have included some of the more significant writings by social scientists in the past decade.
In sum, Reindorp has contributed another potpourri on Latin America, and the result suffers from many of the shortcomings of the genre. The book, which grew out of the author’s teaching, seems intended as a text for lower division courses offered by Spanish and history departments. Certain instructors may favor it, since no controversial issues are raised, no disturbing questions posed, and what is identified as the positive is stressed wholeheartedly. Though Reindorp purports to examine clichés critically, he deals in the most common of accepted generalizations. Still, sincerity is apparent and the writing leavened by a benevolent attitude of tolerance. The volume might have been written in 1948, but today it is surprising.