The Book for the Borderland. Production, Circulation, and Reception of a Guaraní Text Between two Continents

ABSTRACT

This article analyzes the process of production, circulation, and reception of books for the borderlands, i.e., books printed in Europe but intended for the South American missionary borderlands. As a case study, the work examines the “communication circuit” behind Ara Poru aguĭyey haba, a book written entirely in Guaraní language by Jesuits, printed in two volumes in Madrid between 1759-1760, and addressed primarily to the devout Indigenous people from the missions in Paraguay. The analysis presented demonstrates that clergymen who traveled between America and Europe - known as procurators - played a decisive role in all stages of this book’s biography, which suggests that book history in the South American borderlands should be reconsidered as a moving and dynamic global history, influenced by religious factors.

Keywords:
Book history; Society of Jesus; Guaraní language; Guaraní missions; Paraguay; Spiritual literature