Minor Omissions : Children in Latin American History and Society

Editor Hecht argues that the experiences of children in Latin American history are far more than forgotten "curios" in an otherwise well understood story, instead forming an integral part of Latin America that cannot be disentangled from "adult society." Predominately coming from the field of history (but including contributions from literature, religion, anthropology, and art) 10 essays and one short story explore the historiography of Latin American childhood. Topics include the competing sets of beliefs about model children among colonized and colonizing peoples; the impact of legitimate or illegitimate birth status on childhood experience the social rights bestowed on infants at an 18th-century Cuban orphanage; the relationships between crime, childhood, and the state; the impact of civil wars; and the relationships between society, art, and childhood. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)