Anyone wanting a handy guide to prominent Panamanian political and literary figures, unusual Panamanian expressions and customs, Panamanian geographical locations, and basic data on political parties and international relations of Panama will welcome this book. It contains approximately 800 entries listed alphabetically.
However, the authors’ promise to provide factual information on events is largely unfilled, unless these are construed to be entirely electoral. Economic events and institutions, in particular, are neglected.
A dictionary is not generally considered the place for interpretation, yet one cannot but notice that the perspective on international occurrences is North American rather than Panamanian. Highly favorable entries under the two Roosevelts and the Monroe Doctrine reveal the authors’ bias.
