Latin American Dramatists since 1945

Book excerpt: This resource compiles and locates biographical and bibliographical information of over 700 prominent Latin American dramatists of the late 20th century and their plays in 20 different countries, and it lists over 7,000 plays arranged by country and by author. Author biographies consist of year and place of birth, education, careers, other literary genres, and awards and prizes. The bibliographic listings include various editions of plays, followed by references to the plays in anthologies, collections, or periodicals. Latin American theater is rooted in the rich historical traditions of both the indigenous cultures of the region and those of Spain. In the second half of the 20th century, immigration to Latin America from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia also proved influential, and theater became a means of social protest. The military and political dictatorships of the late 20th century often censored plays and persecuted playwrights. This resource compiles and locates biographical and bibliographical information about over 700 prominent Latin American dramatists and their plays in 20 different countries, and it lists over 7,000 plays arranged by country and by author. Author biographies consist of year and place of birth, education, careers, other literary genres, and awards and prizes. The bibliographic listings include various editions of plays, followed by references to the plays in anthologies, collections, or periodicals.