Latin American Literature: History, Culture, and Key Authors
Historical Context
Initially attached to the Spanish monarchy, Central and South America achieved independence. In 1898, the last Spanish colonies (Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines) were established.
Throughout the twentieth century, Latin America experienced instability, enduring authoritarian regimes and revolutions.
Culture and Society
The twentieth century presented common social circumstances: dictatorships and poverty, reflected in literary works. Writers adopted a commitment to reality, fostering a young and vibrant literature.
After the American countries (Mexico, Argentina, etc.) welcomed the Spanish, they contributed their work. Juan Ramon Jimenez was a beloved poet in these countries.
Literary Panorama
Latin American Literature encompasses 19 nations, sharing a common language (Spanish) and a common literary tradition (indigenous contributions).
- Until its independence, the literature of the Spanish colonies thrived.
- The late nineteenth century saw the rise of the modernist movement (Ruben Dario).
- In the 20th century, countries gained independence. Narrative influences on Spanish and European authors emerged.
Key Literary Figures
The Simple
Female representatives include Gabriela Mistral, Alfonsina Storni, and Juana de Ibarbourou.
The Vanguard
Creacionismo
Creative impulse, joy of inventing. Vicente Huidobro.
Ultraismo
Related to modern life, such as innovations and calligrams. Jorge Luis Borges.
Surrealismo
Those who excelled in America include Cesar Vallejo, Pablo Neruda, and Octavio Paz, who were cutting edge and then rehumanized his poetry.
Cesar Vallejo
Marked by a life of poverty, his work is now considered essential, with a modern aesthetic. He transformed poetic language, broke with traditional forms of syntax, and created new words. Spain, Take This Chalice from Me and Human Poems (posthumous).
Pablo Neruda
From Chile, he lived in Madrid and met the poets of ’27. Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (1924) explores love, passion, and surrealism. From Residencia en la Tierra, he developed a political commitment (left), resulting in Canto General.
Octavio Paz
Familiar with Surrealism, he traveled to Spain, India, and Japan, becoming familiar with the poetry of those countries. Notable works include Libertad bajo palabra and Árbol adentro. He received Cervantes and Nobel Prizes.
American Novel of the 20th Century
- 1930s: Realist novel, focusing on the rural and wild nature.
- 1940s: Renovation, new techniques: interior monologue, jumps in time, reality and fantasy, and Magical Realism (rain of frogs). Examples include Miguel Angel Asturias (El Señor Presidente), Alejo Carpentier (El siglo de las luces), and Juan Rulfo (Pedro Páramo).
- 1960s: The Boom of Hispanic American narrative gained international diffusion. Writers shared features of Magical Realism, including Carlos Fuentes (The Death of Artemio Cruz), Julio Cortázar (Hopscotch), Mario Vargas Llosa (The City and the Dogs), and Gabriel Garcia Marquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude).
- After the Boom: Authors include Alfredo Bryce Echenique (A World for Julius), Isabel Allende (The House of the Spirits), Ricardo Piglia, Roberto Bolaño (2666), and Ángeles Mastretta (Mexican Boleros).
The Short Story
Horacio Quiroga created a ‘decalogue’ of 10 rules for writing a good story (The Feather Pillow). Other notable authors include Jorge Luis Borges (The Aleph), Julio Cortázar (Las babas del diablo), and Juan Rulfo (collection of stories from El Llano en llamas).