Presentation of the lives and critical works of over 170 women writers in Latin America between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries, whose works were originally published in Spanish or Portuguese and who have had an impact on literary, political and social studies. Brief biographical data is included, but the main focus is on the meanings and contexts of the works and their cultural and political impact. In addition to author entries, other themes are explored, such as humor in contemporary Latin American fiction, lesbian literature in Latin America, magic, realism, or mother images in Latin American literature.