This volume's genesis stems from the contributors' conviction that, given its vitality and excellence, Latin American literature deserves a more prominent place in comparative literature publications, curricula, and disciplinary discussions. The editors introduce the volume arguing, first, that there still exists, in some quarters, a lingering bias against literature written in Spanish and Portuguese and, second, that by embracing Latin American literature and culture more enthusiastically, comparative literature would find itself reinvigorated, placed into productive discourse with a host of issues, languages, literatures, and cultures that have too long been paid scant academic attention.

Gene H. Bell-Villada teaches Romance languages at Williams College, Massachusetts Gordon Brotherston teaches in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Stanford University Elizabeth Coonrod Martinez teaches Spanish and Latin American literatures at Sonoma State University Lucia de Sa teaches in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Stanford University Roman de la Campa teaches Latin American and comparative literature at the State University of New York, Stony Brook Earl E. Fitz teaches Portuguese, Spanish, and comparative literature at Vanderbilt University Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria teaches Hispanic and comparative literatures at Yale University Sophia A. McClennen teaches comparative American cultural studies in the Departments of Comparative Literature and Spanish at the Pennsylvania State University Alberto Moreiras teaches Romance studies and literatures at Duke University Julio Ortega teaches Latin American literature and directs the Trans-Atlantic Project at Brown University Corey Shouse teaches Spanish and Latin/o American studies at St. John's University in Minnesota Christina Marie Tourino teaches English, U.S. ethnic minority writing, Latin American literatures, and feminist theory at St. John's University in Minnesota Mario J. Valdes has taught comparative literature and Spanish at the University of Toronto since 1963 and holds the Chair in Iberoamerican Studies at the University of Toronto Lois Parkinson Zamora teaches at the University of Houston in the departments of English, History, and Art