Victor Hugo Escala

Victor Hugo Escala Camacho (Guayaquil, June 29, 1887 – April 30, 1964) was a poet, journalist, historian and diplomat. Along with Enrique Baquerizo Moreno and Manuel J. Calle, in 1907 he plotted an uprising against General Eloy Alfaro, which led to his imprisonment and exile. Upon returning to Guayaquil in 1909, he went to work for the literary section of El Telégrafo newspaper. His first poetry book “Motivos Galantes,” was published in Chile in 1915. After the 1918 armistice, he traveled to Paris where the great poet Ernesto Noboa y Caamaño served as his guide. One night they were invited to lunch at Gonzalo Zaldumbide‘s house, and the latter urged him to write. The outcome was “Kaleidoscope,” (1922) a travel journal with prints and landscapes of Europe and the East.

Early Life and Education

Víctor Hugo Escala Camacho was born in 1888 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He was the son of José Miceno Escala Zapata, a prominent journalist and merchant known as “El Rojo Escala” due to his red hair, and Catalina Camacho Moreira from Manabí. His father was a staunch liberal, who often spoke about his political struggles and exiles during the fight against Ecuadorian political corruption.

Escala’s early childhood was marked by fragile health, prompting his family to send him to Paita for recuperation. He began his formal education at Miss Cristina Cornejo’s school and continued his studies at San Luis Gonzaga and the prestigious Vicente Rocafuerte high school in Guayaquil. In 1905, Escala earned his bachillerato (high school diploma). Shortly after, he pursued law studies at the University of Guayaquil and simultaneously gained recognition as a modernist poet, publishing verses influenced by the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío.

Literary and Political Beginnings

While studying law, Escala immersed himself in the literary and political circles of his time. He became part of the group “La Palomilla,” known for its intellectual and artistic gatherings. It was during this time that Escala’s political involvement deepened, particularly in opposition to the government of Eloy Alfaro. Under the mentorship of young writers like César Borja Cordero, Escala engaged in political protests, which escalated to a planned coup in 1907. The conspiracy was discovered, leading to Escala’s arrest along with his brother Cristóbal. Both were exiled to Callao, Peru.

In Peru, Escala continued his literary activities, contributing to the magazine Variedades and meeting with other Ecuadorian exiles, including José Luis Tamayo. Following a brief stay in Valparaíso, Chile, where he worked various jobs, he returned to Ecuador in 1909 under a government amnesty. His reputation as a modernist poet grew during this period, especially with the publication of his poem Lienzos in Patria magazine.

Diplomatic Career

Escala’s diplomatic career took off in 1912 when he was appointed Consul General in Valparaíso by General Leonidas Plaza. This marked the beginning of a series of prestigious postings that would define much of his professional life. Between 1912 and 1916, Escala served as Consul in Havana, Yokohama, and later Rome. His literary work continued alongside his diplomatic duties, with his romantic poetry collection Motivos Galantes being published in 1917 in Chile. This work, however, was considered conservative compared to the more symbolic and modernist poetry that he withheld, fearing it would be considered immoral at the time.

His diplomatic service brought him to Japan in 1918, where he co-edited the magazine América Latina with the Peruvian Consul, Francisco A. Loayza. In 1922, Escala published Kaleidoscopio, a prose work with autobiographical notes and travel impressions. His second major post was as First Secretary of the Ecuadorian Legation in Rome, a position he held during the 1924 International Conference on Emigration and Immigration in Rome.

Later Literary Work and Legacy

Escala’s literary and diplomatic work often intertwined, with his travels and experiences heavily influencing his writing. His work La sandalia del Peregrino, published in Caracas, captured his reflections on his journeys through Asia. Over the years, Escala continued to publish a variety of works, including essays, historical studies, and travel literature. His diplomatic career also flourished as he became closely associated with influential figures such as Venezuelan dictator Juan Vicente Gómez, who entrusted Escala with important international responsibilities.

By 1929, Escala was promoted to Minister Resident, equivalent to an ambassador, and continued to publish prolifically. His works during this period include Mosaico (1929), a collection of essays on art, literature, and history, and Glosario Sentimental (1930), a modernist poetry collection. He also published Paliques de Ayer (1930), which included his autobiographical piece “Rebeldías,” reflecting on his political exile and disillusionment.

Personal Life and Final Years

Escala married Rosa Elmore, a member of the Peruvian aristocracy, with whom he had two children: Rosita and Víctor José. In the 1930s, he continued his diplomatic career in Bolivia and Panama, where he published several essays, including Estado Actual del Indio Ecuatoriano (1938) and Momento Espiritual Ecuatoriano (1939).

After the political upheavals of 1944 in Ecuador, Escala left his diplomatic career and settled in Lima with his family. Disillusioned with the political situation in his home country, he devoted his later years to writing and historical research. His final major work, Así era Bolívar (1946), reflected his deep admiration for the liberator Simón Bolívar. Escala spent his later years in Caracas, where he remained respected within literary and diplomatic circles.

Honors and Recognition

Escala received numerous honors throughout his life. He was awarded Venezuela’s “Busto del Libertador” and “Medalla de Instrucción Pública,” Chile’s “Orden al Mérito,” and Cuba’s “Honor y Mérito.” He was also a member of several prestigious academies, including the Real Academia de Ciencias y Artes de Cádiz, the Société Historique de France, and the Academia Nacional de la Historia of Venezuela. His contributions to modernist poetry and Ecuadorian diplomacy remain significant, even if his literary work was often overshadowed by his diplomatic service.

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Family

• Father: José Miceno Escala
• Mother: Catalina Camacho Moreira
• Spouse: Rosa Carolina Elmore Aveleira
• Children: Rosita Escala, Víctor José Escala

Education

Graduated University de Guayaquil.

Career

• Minister plenipotentiary, Bolivia, Panama.
• Delegate of Ecuador, immigration conference, Rome, and 1st meeting of foreign ministers, Panama, 1939.
• Editor of magazines: América-Latina (Yokohama), Ecuador (Caracas), Ecuador Pais Amazónico (Panama), Atahualpa (Panama).
• Consul in Valparaiso, Havana, Yokohama, Calcutta.
• Secretary of legation, Rome, Caracas.

Memberships

• Academia de Historia of Ecuador.
• Académie Diplomatique of Paris.
• Academia Hispano Americana de Ciencias y Artes of Cádiz.
• National Academy of History of Venezuela.
• Société Historique of France.
• Center of Historical Research of Guayaquil.
• Sociedad LatinoJaponesa of Tokio.
• Sociedad Bolivariana of Quito.
• Grupo América of Quito.

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Timeline of Víctor Hugo Escala Camacho’s Life

1888

• Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to José Miceno Escala Zapata and Catalina Camacho Moreira.

Early 1890s

• Health problems during childhood lead to a stay in Paita, Peru, to strengthen his constitution.

1895-1905

• Attended San Luis Gonzaga and Vicente Rocafuerte high schools in Guayaquil.
• Graduated with a bachillerato (high school diploma) in 1905.

1905

• Enrolled in the University of Guayaquil to study law and began gaining recognition as a modernist poet.

1906-1907

• Became involved in political protests against the government of Eloy Alfaro.
• Arrested in July 1907 for his role in a failed coup and exiled to Callao, Peru, along with his brother Cristóbal.

1907-1909

• Lived in Peru, working for Variedades magazine and connecting with other Ecuadorian exiles.
• Briefly resided in Valparaíso, Chile, working various jobs before returning to Ecuador in 1909 under an amnesty.

1909

• Returned to Guayaquil and continued his career as a poet, gaining further recognition with works published in Patria magazine.

1910

• Served as a soldier during the conflict with Peru, stationed on the southern border for six months.

1911-1912

• Traveled to Buenos Aires as a correspondent for El Telégrafo.
• Appointed Consul General in Valparaíso, Chile, by General Leonidas Plaza in 1912.

1917

• Appointed Consul General in Havana, Cuba.
• Published Motivos Galantes, a romantic poetry collection, in Chile.

1918-1922

• Served as Ecuadorian Consul in Yokohama, Japan.
• Co-edited the magazine América Latina and published Kaleidoscopio in 1922, a prose work with autobiographical reflections.

1922

• Appointed First Secretary of the Ecuadorian Legation in Rome.
• Left Japan just before the devastating 1923 Yokohama earthquake.

1924

• Attended the International Conference on Emigration and Immigration in Rome as a technical advisor.
• Published Medallones, historical essays on Ecuador.

1925-1929

• Served as Ecuador’s Chargé d’Affaires in Venezuela.
• Developed a close friendship with Venezuelan dictator Juan Vicente Gómez.
• Published La sandalia del Peregrino in 1928, a travel account of his time in the East.
• Promoted to Minister Resident (Ambassador) in Venezuela in 1929.

1929-1930

• Published Mosaico (1929), a collection of literary and historical essays, and Glosario Sentimental (1930), a collection of modernist poetry.

1936-1938

• Appointed Minister Resident in Bolivia and published works such as Estado Actual del Indio Ecuatoriano and Filosofía de los Viajes.

1939

• Appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Panama.
• Published Momento Espiritual Ecuatoriano and Diplomacia Ecuatoriana en los Albores del Panamá.

1942-1944

• Continued to publish works on Ecuadorian history and politics, including Belleza de la lengua castellana y don Juan Montalvo and Eloy Alfaro, campeón de la Democracia.
• Returned to Ecuador after the revolution of May 28, 1944.

1946

• Published Así era Bolívar, a historical account of Simón Bolívar.

1954-1955

• Living in Caracas, Venezuela, published articles such as Bolivia (1954) and Olmedo y las dos banderas (1955).

1957

• Passed away, leaving a legacy as both a diplomat and modernist poet.

Selected Works

• Motivos Galantes (1915; poetry)
• La República del Ecuador (1916; prose)
• Kaleidoscopio (1922; prose)
• Medallones, breve apuntes históricos (1924; prose), you can read it for free here.
• Mosaico (1929; prose), read it for free here.
• Paliques de Ayer (1930; prose), read it for free here.
• Bronce Inmortal (1935; prose)
• Rondador (1936; poetry)
• La sandalia del peregrino (1928; prose)
• Glosario sentimental (1930; poetry), read it for free here.
• Estado actual del indio ecuatoriano (1938; prose)
• Kaleidoscopio de la cultura ecuatoriana (1945)

Name variations used in print and at libraries

• Victor Hugo Escala
• Victor Escala
• Victor H Escala

References

• Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, “Medallones (Breves apuntes históricos).” Retrieved on October 4, 2024. Click to view.
• La Hora, “El modernismo al margen.” Retrieved on October 4, 2024. Click to view.
• Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel, “Escala Camacho Victor Hugo.” Retrieved on October 4, 2024. Click to view.