»Identikit for Latin America« is a collection of essays compiled by Gustav Siebenmann on the occasion of his 80th birthday. The first section is given over to fundamental considerations on cultural comparison and cultural identity. These are followed by essays on the quest for Latin American identity, the changes undergone by the image of Latin America in the mentality and literature of German-speaking nations, the role of the latter in the history of the continent, and their contribution to research on the region. After a comparison of the centenary celebrations to mark the discovery of America, the volume closes with a discussion of development problems.