Choice 评论

In her introduction, Rivera-Barnes (Pennsylvania State Univ.) describes this intriguing, thought-provoking volume as "an interdisciplinary research project involving the relationship between Latin American literature and ecology." Rivera-Barnes and Hoeg (also Penn State), with modest contributions from two other scholars, respond to the introduction of ecocriticism in the late 1980s; the establishment, in 1992, of the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment; and the now-pervasive preoccupation with the preservation of environment. In various guises, ecocriticism has flourished in schools as varied as Harvard, Oberlin, and the University of Nebraska. The texts discussed in the 12 chapters that make up this study span six centuries, from the 15th to the 21st. Though they fail to resolve the issue of the utilization of nature for survival and the conservation of nature, the authors pose many ethical questions concerning the environment and science and address the newly spawned ecofeminism. In defining ecocriticism as "the study of the relationship between literature and the environment," they invite one to read Latin American literature from a different, more enriching perspective. Expertly written, thoughtfully realized, and challenging. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and researchers. F. Colecchia Duquesne University