This thoughtful study challenges a number of widespread assumptions about the role of Catholicism in Mexican history by examining two related Catholic charities: the male Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Ladies of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. With thousands of volunteers, these lay groups not only survived the liberal reforms of the mid-nineteenth century but thrived, offering educational, medical, and other services to hundreds of thousands of poor people. Arrom stresses the prominence of women among the volunteers, showing the many ways that Catholicism promoted Mexican modernization rather than being an obstacle to it. Moreover, by reinserting religion into public life, these organizations defied the secularizing policies of the Mexican government. By comparing the male and female organizations collectively, the work shows that the relationship between gender, faith, and charity was much more complicated than is usually believed, with devout men and women supporting the Catholic project in complementary ways.

A timely study of women's social advancement in Uruguay during a period of unprecented political reform early in the twentieth century.

Insightful and accessible, A Social History of Modern Spain is the first comprehensive social history of modern Spain in any language. Adrian Shubert analyzes the social development of Spain since 1800. He explores the social conflicts at the root of the Spanish Civil War and how that war and the subsequent changes from democracy to Franco and back again have shaped the social relations of the country. Paying equal attention to the rural and urban worlds and respecting the great regional diversity within Spain, Shubert draws a sophisticated picture of a country struggling with the problems posed by political, economic, and social change. He begins with an overview of the rural economy and the relationship of the people to the land, then moves on to an analysis of the work and social lives of the urban population. He then discusses the changing roles of the clergy, the military, and the various local government, community, and law enforcement officials. A Social History of Modern Spain concludes with an analysis of the dramatic political, economic, and social changes during the Franco regime and during the subsequent return to democracy.

Concepción Arenal Ponte (1820-1893) fue una importante escritora española realista vinculada al pionero movimiento feminista de finales del siglo XIX.
En 1859 funda el grupo femenino de las Conferencias de San Vicente de Paúl para ayuda de los pobres. Para ellas escribe en 1860 La beneficencia, la filantropía y la caridad, que presentó al concurso convocado por la Academia de Ciencias Morales y Políticas, bajo el nombre de su hijo Fernando, que tenía entonces 10 años. Después de una serie de conflictos sobre la forma incorrecta de introducir su escrito en el concurso, se le concedió el premio (1861) y fue la primera mujer premiada por la Academia.
La beneficencia, la filantropía y la caridad está dividida en dos partes, en la primera de ellas expone de forma general la historia de la beneficencia en España que abarca desde la dominación romana hasta sus días. En la segunda parte de la obra trata sobre los principios que deben regir la estrecha y conveniente relación entre la caridad privada y la beneficencia pública.