French views of Central America in the early 20th century: Maurice de Périgny and the Costa Rica of hope

Abstract

The study is part of an effort to interpret the image of Central America in France during the first decades of the 20th century, at a time when France is seeking to preserve its cultural, military and financial influence in the region.

The article studies the case of the publications produced by the French explorer Maurice de Périgny between 1910 and 1919 –a period that includes the tragic conflict of World War I– on the Central American isthmus but focuses especially on his work on Costa Rica.