The enormous recent increase in the quantity and quality of Latin American literary criticism has been responsible for the growth in the number of specialized bibliographies of Spanish American literature. David William Foster’s bibliography of Mexican literature is a worthwhile addition to the several general bibliographies that exist in this area. His specific contribution is a registry of representative criticism on fifty Mexican writers whom the compiler has selected on the basis of their historical and aesthetic importance. Of the fifty authors, the majority are from the twentieth century. Only thirteen—eleven from the nineteenth century and two from colonial times—are from the previous periods. Limiting the number to fifty indicates that the registry does not pretend to be exhaustive. Alfonso Reyes, José Vasconcelos, and a number of traditional figures are not included for a variety of reasons stated in the preface.
On the whole, the selection is satisfactory, especially from the standpoint of North American professors and graduate students. All authors included are, or have remained, central to the study of Mexican literature.
The volume is compiled according to proper methodological procedures and with a view toward simplicity and easy accessibility. Part One covers general references, which are divided into specific subheadings such as “General Studies on Poetry,” “Twentieth-Century Drama,” and “Regional Literature.” In the lengthier Part Two, the authors are arranged alphabetically and the items under each name are subdivided into bibliographical references, monographs and dissertations, and critical essays. The last are articles (also review articles) from all types of scholarly and cultural journals and collections, including some in languages other than Spanish or English. Here again the compiler’s intent is not to be exhaustive, but to list items likely to be found in Latin America and the United States. Items from dailies, magazines, and literary supplements are not included in the references. The volume concludes with an index of critics.
Foster has made a useful bibliographic contribution, one that may encourage emulation to add the as yet neglected area of national literatures in Spanish America.
