Some General Histories of Latin America

Excerpts from the report: The increasing interest in the nations of Latin America is a natural development that has been hastened by the present European war. Today, in an effort to promote Pan American solidarity, there is a demand for a greater understanding of the problems of our Southern neighbors. But no problems can be fully understood without some reference to history. That the general history of Latin America is readily available in English is sometimes a surprise to those who are just now becoming interested in the subject. Yet such is the case, and in the last 25 years, almost a flood of literature has appeared. With a reading knowledge only of English, one can acquire a considerable understanding of Latin American history, although other languages are required for research in the field. As this article is mainly concerned with a useful general understanding, the works cited are general in scope and in English. It should be remembered, however, that historiography is well developed in Latin America and that the works of such scholars as Jose Toribio Medina of Chile, Francisco Garcia -Calderon of Peru, and Ricardo Levene of Argentina are world-renowned.