Civilisation and Authenticity: The Search for Cultural Uniqueness in the Narrative Fiction of Alejo Carpentier and Julio Cortázar

The question «What is Latin America? » has been at the heart of writing from and about Latin America from Columbus’ conquest to present-day discussions and nationalising projects. What this belies is the inherent question «What is Latin America compared to Europe? » This book lays bare the underlying logic of a Latin Americanist discourse through some of the continent’s most influential thinkers, including Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, José Martí, José Enrique Rodó, José Vasconcelos, Fernando...