Espada has compiled a successful assortment of 43 Latino poets writing in English, unusual in that a high number live in New England. To eschew favoritism, he arranged an entire generation of contributors alphabetically, mixing well-established names like Gary Soto with several younger lesser-knowns. A mixture of styles is also included: sonnets, prose poems, and concrete poetry are all here. Although most of the selections were previously published locally, their treatment of the themes of the Latino experience, the indignity of racism, and the quest for the preservation of cultural identity make them deserving of a wider audience. Julio Marzan sums it up the best: "Next spring I will be/ Forty years a foreigner." Espada, himself a poet of some renown (Imagine the Angels of Bread, LJ 6/1/96) and a contributor to this volume, has provided a good, useful vehicle for disseminating that broader cultural awareness.

Share/Like this Review?