The essays in this collection represent the final research projects from six undergraduate students enrolled in Honors 181: "The Theory and Practice of Inter-American Literature." They met Spring 2002, under the direction of Professor Earl E. Fitz, the Director of Vanderbilt’s Program in Comparative Literature.

Students enrolled in this class were: Carol O. Carrillo, Jonathan M. Davis, Owen G. Haaga, Laura E. Montague, and Adam G. Pugh.

This course reflects part of a very fast growing new field, consisted of readings and discussion of issues, theme, and problems germane to Inter-American Studies. Part of the course dealt with the theoretical and methodological issues involved in seeking to compare and contrast the literature of North, Central, and South America. Recurring themes were race relations, the importance of Native American traditions, attitudes and political influence that tie the Americas together, and question relating to identity, in all its multiform New World Aspects.