Culture and Customs of Colombia (Culture and Customs of Latin America and the Caribbean) [Hardcover]

Raymond Leslie Williams (Author), Kevin G. Guerrieri (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 031330405X | ISBN-13: 978-0313304057 | Publication Date: August 30, 1999

This insider's account of Colombia's culture and customs helps the reader develop a balanced view of Colombian life today. Colombia has the longest-standing democratic political system in Latin America, but it is also one of the most violent nations in the world. The full gamut of its culture--both positive and negative--is revealed in this insightful book that is ideal for student research. The authors highlight the most notable aspects of contemporary Colombian culture including coffee production, Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez, painter Fernando Botero, vallenato music, and the notorious drug cartels. Colombia is one of the most diverse, regionalistic, and tradition-bound nations in Latin America. Culture and Customs of Colombia offers a thorough examination of those features of national life that make Colombia unique. The book begins by introducing the reader to Colombia's history, geography, and economy. Subsequent chapters discuss the profound importance of the formalities of Catholicism in daily and civic life, as well as the significance of traditional foods and clothing. Colombia's increasingly dynamic cultural scene is detailed in chapters on the performing arts and the plastic arts. The discussion of Colombian literature culminates in a special chapter devoted to the luminary Gabriel Garcia Marquez, known the world over for his magical novels, and whose influence and cultural participation in Colombian society are wide-ranging.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Provides a broad introduction to Colombian culture....The text is well written and effectively projects the authors' appreciation and affection for Colombia, its history, its literature, and its culture.”–American Reference Books Annual

About the Author

RAYMOND LESLIE WILLIAMS is Professor of Latin American Literature and Chair of the Department of Hispanic Studies at the University of California, Riverside.

KEVIN G. GUERRIERI is completing his Ph.D. at the University of California, Riverside, on the twentieth-century Latin American narrative.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (August 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031330405X
• ISBN-13: 978-0313304057
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,213,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Title does not reflect the content, November 27, 2006

By 

Michael Wood (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Culture and Customs of Colombia (Culture and Customs of Latin America and the Caribbean) (Hardcover)

When I purchased this book I expected it to give an insight into the culture and customs of Colombia. This book only recites dates and statistics never actually going into any day-to-day customs or cultural insights. Very dry and uninteresting unless you plan on writing a paper for a college class. Obviously this book is written for someone who never plans to go to Colombia.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disagree, April 19, 2009

By 

R.Eader "horse" (europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Culture and Customs of Colombia (Culture and Customs of Latin America and the Caribbean) (Hardcover)

Must say I disagree with the review written above. What this book is: An introduction (160 pages) to the history, litterature, art and cinema of Colombia. What this book isn't: A travell guide, it offers background, for updated travellers info buy a proper guide. I read it before going to C., and found it helpful trying to orientate myself in this diverse country. You'll need additional books, ie lonely planet/footprint/rough guide, Penguins history of south america etc.