The Buenos Aires Reader: History, Culture, Politics

by Diego Armus (Editor), Lisa Ubelaker Andrade (editor)

The Buenos Aires Reader offers an insider’s look at the diverse lived experiences of the people, politics, and culture of Argentina’s capital city primarily from the nineteenth century to the present. Refuting the tired cliché that Buenos Aires is the “Paris of South America,” this book gives a nuanced view of a city that has long been attentive to international trends yet never ceases to celebrate its local culture. The vibrant opinions, reflections, and voices of Buenos Aires come to life through selections that range from songs, poems, letters, and essays to interviews, cartoons, paintings, and historical documents, many of which have been translated into English for the first time. These selections tell the story of the city’s culture of protest and celebration, its passion for soccer and sport, its gastronomy and food traditions, its legendary nightlife, and its musical, literary, and artistic cultures. Providing an unparalleled look at Buenos Aires’s history, culture, and politics, this volume is an ideal companion for anyone interested in this dynamic, disruptive, and inventive city.

400 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2024

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Club membership is entangled in sense of self -- 'belonging' to a club is such an assumed and integrated part of identity that little boys and girls are expected to be able to answer the question 'De que cuadro sos?' (What club are you from?) as soon as they can talk." (168)

"The French, the English, the Germans -- they have incredible cultures, but they often scorn other cultures; they think they invented the wheel. Argentina knows it didn't invent the wheel. So it was a question of translating everything, translating from fifty different languages." (on EUDEBA/CEAL, 240)

[Martyn Beeny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Buenos Aires Reader: History, Culture, Politics is a vibrant and engaging collection that captures the rich history, culture, and everyday life of Argentina's capital. Edited by Diego Armus and Lisa Ubelaker Andrade, the volume brings together an impressive range of historical documents, literature, music, interviews, essays, and visual materials that reveal the city's unique character and evolving identity.

Thoughtfully curated and deeply informative, it is an outstanding resource for students, scholars, travelers, and anyone interested in Buenos Aires and Latin American history.

[Richard Potenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worthy of more stars after more reading. This is overwhelming. I have friends from Buenos Aires but I have never been there, nor to any country in South America. The seven themes of 113 entries that describe the history, culture, and politics, 345 pages, pictures, and suggestions for further reading comprise a myriad of impressions.