Chocolate: How a New World Commodity Conquered Spanish Literature.

This text focuses on the historical and cultural influence of chocolate as a New World commodity in Spanish literature, as explored in a scholarly work by Erin Alice Cowling. The book traces chocolate's journey from its indigenous origins in Mayan and Aztec civilizations to its adoption and adaptation in Europe, highlighting its evolving social, economic, and symbolic roles. Cowling examines a range of Spanish literary sources—from early indigenous manuscripts to eighteenth-century plays—to illustrate diverse perceptions of chocolate, including its associations with luxury, religion, sin, and pleasure. The study also addresses the commodity's trade dynamics, including monopolies and smuggling, which affected its availability and price in Spain. Overall, the work offers a nuanced view of chocolate's cultural significance as reflected in Spanish literature over several centuries.