Argentina, Legend and History
In this book, editors Garibaldi and Cincinato Laguardia assemble a reader designed to introduce students of Spanish to the history, heroes, and promise of Argentina. Built around Vicente Blasco Ibáñez's Con Rumbo a la Esperanza and rounded out with selections from Sarmiento, Mitre, Bunge, and other Argentine writers, it traces the nation's story from the dawn of independence through its struggles and steady progress. An introduction sketches the historical background, while biographical notes, annotations, and suggested translations of difficult passages guide the reader through gaucho legends, portraits of San Martín and Belgrano, and accounts of the Congreso de Tucumán.
Beyond its classroom purpose, the volume reflects the Pan-American ideal of its era: drawing the two Americas closer through sympathetic understanding. It celebrates Argentine courage, the romance of the pampa, and the men who built a republic, inviting readers to share in the country's enduring hope.
How it begins
I N this book, the editors offer reading material which will give the student some idea of the history of Argentina, of her great men, of her development since the dawn of independence, and of her wonderful possibilities, as shown in Blasco Ibáñez’s Con Rumbo a la Esperanza . The choice of material has necessarily been restricted, but within that limited field, the editors have selected what was representative and typical and best adapted to the purpose in view. The book has been arranged to suit the needs of third-year high school work, or second-year college Spanish. It was taken for granted that the student would be familiar with the underlying principles of Spanish grammar before taking up this book; and yet, grammatical explanations have been given wherever they were deemed necessary, and translations of difficult passages have been suggested. The Introduction gives a brief historical sketch of Argentina, which will furnish a background on which to locate the specific events related in the book. Considerable detailed information concerning the authors represented and the institutions and customs of Argentina and her people will be found in the Biographical Notes and in the annotations to the selections. If the book succeeds in arousing a sympathetic interest in the struggles for Argentine independence and her subsequent progress, the editors will feel more than repaid.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain.