The casual reader may be forgiven for expressing surprise that a volume that offers a selection of the thoughts of notable figures of Spanish descent contains barely a word in the Spanish language. However, the aim of this volume is not to provide quotations in Spanish but to make some, at least, of the culture of the USA’s largest minority population accessible to the non‐Spanish‐speaking majority. All the more surprising then to discover that the book also contains a two‐page appendix of Spanish proverbs and examples of graffiti from the Hispanic gang culture. The authors are both from US academic institutions. Edward F. Stanton is Chair of the Department of Spanish and Italian at the University of Kentucky and author of several books on Hispanic life and literature including the Handbook of Spanish Popular Culture. Co‐author Daniel E. Stanton is a graduate student of the University of California, Berkeley.
The authors define Hispanic as people who have lived in the USA and who can trace their ancestry to Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula or the Philippine Islands. Thus we find quotations from three madrilenos, of whom all Spaniards are justly proud: Placido Domingo, Penelope Cruz and Julio Iglesias, alongside those of Latin‐American origin such as Isabel Allende, Celia Cruz and Carlos Castaneda. There are also quotations from native New Yorkers such as Joan Baez and Jennifer Lopez together with Texan golfer Lee Trevino. Emphasis in the book is clearly on the contemporary. Thus we find a host of representatives of present‐day popular culture, including singer Christina Aguilera, Hollywood stars Martin Sheen and Andy Garcia, and fashion trendsetters Oscar de la Renta and Daisy Fuentes. Hispanic stars of an earlier generation whose thoughts are also recorded include Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino), Anthony Quinn and Desi Arnaz (of I Love Lucy fame). Such stars, we are told, are included for the lasting nature of their contribution to Hispanic culture. Interestingly, the book does not rely solely on printed sources for its quotations: it also contains original statements offered expressly for this work, together with words from radio, television and other non‐print sources.
Arrangement of the work is alphabetically by author and within each author quotations are arranged chronologically. Brief biographical details of authors are given together with some indication of their achievements. The book also includes 49 photographs in black and white. In all, the book contains more than 1,000 quotations from more than 200 notable Hispanics drawn from a wide range of professions and areas of interest such as writers, politicians, sports personalities and members of the entertainment industry. In addition to the author sequence the contributors are listed by broad subject area and the volume contains a subject index of quotations included. Themes that run through the book include racism, the importance of family and religion, the inexhaustible richness of Spanish culture and the rewards of patience and perseverance.
This volume brings together in a handy format information that would be difficult to obtain elsewhere. In addition to its reference function the volume offers readers the opportunity to browse through the thoughts and sayings of many of those making the headlines in today’s press. At $55, however, sales are likely to be restricted to large reference libraries. Given the fickle nature of stardom, one wonders how many of the personalities included in this volume will appear in any future edition.
