This volume includes a selection of the papers given during the international conference «Patagonia: Myths and Realities», which was organised through the Centre of Latin American Cultural Studies at the University of Manchester. The essays gathered in this collection are not a direct record of the proceedings but pursue many of the themes raised by the participants. The contributors to the volume come from the fields of history, literary studies and cultural studies. From among the many sources that explore the representation of Patagonia, they have chosen to discuss a wide range of texts, dating from the eighteenth century to the twentieth century, including travelogues, diaries, maps, novels, autobiographies, letters and even a dictionary. The essays trace different experiences in order to illustrate the diversity of the region. This book makes a significant contribution to the study of the historical circumstances around the exploration and colonisation of Patagonia, as well as the subsequent cultural, political and economic outcomes.