Issues of race, religion and gender-and their bearing on the myths and realities of empire in the writing of both history and fiction serve as the focus for discussion of texts and ideas that have had a remarkable impact on the Old World and the New. Influential thinkers such as Christine Buci-Glucksmann, Anthony Pagden, Mary Louise Pratt, J.H. Elliott, Hayden White and Paul Ricoeur offer points of departure for our exploration of cultural issues in the writings of such authors as, el Miguel de Cervantes, Pedro de Corral, Inca Garcilaso, Antonio de Guevara, Lope de Vega, Miguel de Luna and María de Zayas.
