This encyclopedia surveys the vast landscape of Latino literature from the colonial era to the present. As broad and inclusive as possible, the encyclopedia covers all of native North American Latino literature, as well as that created by authors from Spanish America or Spain. The encyclopedia gives special attention to the social, cultural, historical, and political contexts of Latino literature, thus making it an ideal tool to help students use literature to learn about history and cultural diversity. Included are more than 700 alphabetically arranged entries written by roughly 60 expert contributors. While most of the entries are or individual writers, others cover themes, concepts, genres, and ethnic and national literatures. Sample Entries include: Oscar Zeta Acosta; African Roots; Luis Alfaro; Isabel Allende; Julia Alvarez; Vicente J. Bernal; Border Literature; Alan Cambeira; Lorna Dee Cervantes; Chicano Identity; Sandra Cisneros; Angie Cruz; Dominican Immigration; Folklore and Oral Tradition; Francisco Goldman; Oscar Hijuelos; Hispanic Playwrights Project; Jaime Manrique; Julio Matas; Cherrie Moraga; El Museo del Barrio; Gabriel Navarro; Nuyorican Literature; John Rechy; Carmen Rivera; and more.