Book Reviews

David A. Boruchoff, Book Review Essay Editor

Latin American Research Review has a long tradition of reviewing recently published books in the various disciplines and fields of interest embraced by the Latin American Studies Association.

The intent of these reviews is threefold: (1) to familiarize readers with the subject matter, approach, arguments and conclusions found in a cluster of books whose common focus is an historical period; a country or region within Latin America; or a practice, development or issue of interest to specialists and others; (2) to site this cluster of books within current scholarship, critical methodologies and approaches; and (3) to probe the relation of these new books to previous work on the subject, especially canonical texts. Unlike individual book reviews, the cluster reviews found in LARR seek to address the state of the field or discipline, and not solely the works at issue, in order to appraise the latter’s contributions and the public for which they are intended and most useful. These objectives are not easy to accomplish in a maximum of 4,000 words.

LARR receives hundreds of books every year, primarily from academic publishers in the Americas and Europe. With the exception of basic textbooks and non-critical editions of creative works, most books received are considered for inclusion in a review essay, with the final selection determined by the interests of reviewers and the relevance of each title to the cluster for which it is considered. It is inevitable and unfortunate, nevertheless, that a number of worthwhile studies will escape review in LARR, either because we could not obtain copies for review, or because they did not fit with others concurrently published.

LARR does not publish unsolicited reviews, nor does it normally commission reviews from students or others who do not hold the Ph.D. As with other items in LARR, review essays may be written in English, Spanish or Portuguese.

Those interested in being considered as reviewers are invited to send a 1-page letter as an email attachment with the following information:

• Complete name, mailing and email addresses, and telephone and fax numbers
• Professional affiliation;
• Educational background, with the years, institutions and disciplines of all higher degrees;
• Languages used, with proficiency in each;
• Areas of expertise and interest, including regions, time periods, themes and approaches.

Letters of interest from recent recipients of the Ph.D. and scholars at liberal arts colleges and other institutions with whose publications the Editorial Board may be unfamiliar are especially welcome, as this will help us to expand and diversify our repertoire of potential reviewers.

For further information on book review essays, please write or email to: