richard - Ecuadorian Literature

César Espíndola Pino

César Espíndola Pino (Tulcán, 1917–Unknown) was an Ecuadorian author and lawyer. Born in Tulcán, he trained in law and served as Deputy Secretary in Ecuador’s Ministry of Social Welfare, which informed his professional interest in labor and legal issues. His novel Fuego en la ciudad (1941) examines the struggles of a middle-class man facing economic decline. His poetry collection Guijarros (1942) includes micropoems that reflect a minimalist style and themes of nature and impermanence, while Lo que el poeta me dijo (1951) consists of prose poems exploring solitude and introspection. Espíndola Pino also published El caso de “Pusuquí Grande” y anexas (1965), a legal analysis of land and labor disputes in Ecuador. He was associated with cultural institutions such as the Ateneo Ecuatoriano and the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana.

Muna Lee

Muna Lee (1895–1965) was an American poet, translator, and activist whose work significantly advanced Pan-American cultural exchange. Known for her lyrical poetry and commitment to women’s rights, Lee became a prominent translator of Latin American literature, notably introducing Ecuadorian poet Jorge Carrera Andrade to English-speaking audiences with her acclaimed translation of Secret Country (1946). Her marriage to Puerto Rican poet and later governor Luis Muñoz Marín drew her into Puerto Rican cultural life, where she also served as director of International Relations at the University of Puerto Rico. Later, as a specialist in inter-American cultural affairs for the U.S. State Department, she championed artistic exchange across the Americas. Lee’s legacy endures in her translations and her efforts to foster a unified cultural identity throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Manuel María Sánchez

Manuel María Sánchez Baquero (Quito, December 19, 1879 – July 28, 1935) was an Ecuadorian lawyer, educator, poet, and journalist who served as Minister of Public Instruction and rector of Instituto Nacional Mejía, where he championed educational reform. His poetry, including “Patria,” reflects themes of patriotism and social justice. A committed journalist, he co-founded the anti-government publications La Prensa and La Constitución. His legacy in Ecuadorian education, literature, and national identity endures, with numerous schools and public spaces named in his honor. In 1938, three years after Sánchez’s death, his family published a collection of his poetry titled Poesías, which includes many of his significant works.

César Ariosto Orellana

César Ariosto Orellana (born circa early 1900s – unknown) was a co-founder of the César Borja Literary Society in Quito, Ecuador, alongside Jorge Carrera Andrade and Luis Aníbal Sánchez in January 1917. He attended Colegio Mejía, a high school in Quito, beginning in 1914, where he joined a budding literary circle that included future luminaries such as Carrera Andrade, later regarded as one of Ecuador’s foremost 20th-century poets, and Sánchez, an influential figure in Ecuadorian prose poetry of the modernismo era before his untimely death at 20. In April 1917, the society published the magazine La Idea, serving as its official organ, with Orellana as the magazine’s president and Carrera Andrade as treasurer. La Idea provided an early platform for poets such as Carrera Andrade, Sánchez, and Gonzalo Pozo, publishing works largely influenced by the modernismo movement as well as literary essays.

Luis Aníbal Sánchez

Luis Aníbal Sánchez (Quito, February 3, 1902 – Quito, February 14, 1922) was an Ecuadorian writer and modernist poet celebrated for his pioneering use of prose poetry. From an early age, Sánchez immersed himself in Ecuador’s literary circles, joining forces with Jorge Carrera Andrade and César Ariosto Orellana to co-found the César Borja Literary Society at Colegio Mejía in Quito. This student group, composed of high school peers, was devoted to literary innovation and expression, becoming a hub for young, revolutionary voices. Sánchez’s most notable work, Palabras con Flordelina (1920), epitomized his intense and emotive prose poetry, complemented by an epilogue penned by Gonzalo Escudero Moscoso. His contributions extended to Ecuadorian literary magazines such as La Idea, Crepúsculo, and Los Hermes, and he also wrote the introduction to Escudero’s Los poemas del arte. Despite his untimely death at just 20 years old, Sánchez’s literary legacy endures, marking him as a key figure in the evolution of Ecuadorian modernist literature.

Miguel Ángel Zambrano

Miguel Ángel Zambrano (Riobamba, 1898 – Quito, 1969) was an Ecuadorian poet, university professor, and social reformer whose work bridged literary and political spheres. Known for his late start in publishing, Zambrano released his first poetry collection, Diálogo de los seres profundos, at age 58, earning acclaim for its philosophical depth and apocalyptic tone. His poetry, which includes Biografía inconclusa (1961) and Mensaje (1968), explores themes of existentialism and social justice, resonating with Ecuador’s indigenous and working-class struggles. As a professor at the Central University of Ecuador, he also founded the Institute of Social Research and co-authored Ecuador’s 1938 Labor Code. His legacy endures through posthumous collections and preserved recordings, cementing his status as a key figure in Ecuadorian literature and social thought.

Carlos Alejandro Ardila

Carlos Alejandro Ardila Ardila (Portoviejo, Ecuador, August 23, 1951), often referred to simply as Carlos Ardila, is an Ecuadorian poet and cultural promoter, widely known as “El Poeta del Pueblo” for his accessible and community-focused poetry. Ardila began writing in his teens, and his career now spans over five decades, with numerous published works, including Poesía Eterna (2002), Hablemos de Amor (2011), and A Mi Manera (2017), the latter archived in the prestigious Archivo de Indias in Seville, Spain. His poetry reflects themes of romance and social awareness, capturing the lives and struggles of his community in Manabí.

María Alejandra Almeida

María Alejandra Almeida Albuja (Ibarra, Ecuador, February 16, 1992) is an Ecuadorian author and lawyer known for her contributions to children’s and young adult literature. She began her writing career at age 11 with her first published story, and has since authored numerous acclaimed books, including La habitación secreta (2014), La esfera dorada (2017), and El pez más feo del mundo (2020), many of which have received prestigious awards like the Premio Nacional Darío Guevara Mayorga. In addition to her literary work, Almeida holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and a postgraduate degree in public policy research from FLACSO, balancing her time between human rights advocacy and writing.

Angélica Flores Zambrano

Angélica Flores Zambrano (Manta, circa 1919 – ibidem, April 11, 2013) was a celebrated Ecuadorian poet, writer, and educator known as “La Novia de Manta.” She contributed significantly to local culture by authoring hymns for various schools and organizations in Manabí. Flores also contributed articles to publications such as El Universo, El Telégrafo, El Mercurio, El Diario Manabita, and Recado Cultural de Portoviejo. She published a book of poetry and prose, Cartas de María (2001). Her legacy includes numerous awards, and a school in Manta is named in her honor.

Jorge Centeno Medranda

Jorge Centeno Medranda is a foundational figure in Manta’s literary and cultural history, celebrated for his work as a poet and cultural advocate, especially throughout the 1970s. As a founding member of the Grupo Cultural Manta, established in 1965, Centeno Medranda was instrumental in shaping the city’s poetic identity, participating in public readings and literary events alongside other prominent poets, such as Josefa Mendoza de Mora and Angélica Flores Zambrano. Known for his dedication to poetry as an autonomous art form with a focus on language and intellectual depth, he contributed significantly to Manta’s vibrant cultural scene. His influence also extended to educational initiatives, notably through his role in the founding of Unidad Educativa Cinco de Junio, reflecting his commitment to both literary and community development in Manta.

Gustavo Cáceres Castro

Gustavo Cáceres Castro (Guayaquil, Ecuador, April 1954) was a prominent Ecuadorian physician, historian, and author known for his contributions to the history of medicine in Ecuador. A graduate of the University of Guayaquil’s Faculty of Medicine, he practiced at the Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo and later taught embryology at his alma mater. Cáceres authored several influential works on Ecuador’s medical heritage, including Diccionario Básico de Terminología y Personajes de la Medicina Ecuatoriana (1989) and Medicina Guayaquileña (2023), which explore the evolution of medical practices and figures from the 18th and 19th centuries. His interests extended to poetry, winning him a first prize from the Municipality of Guayaquil in 1990, and his poem appeared in the anthology Cantos a Guayaquil (2011). Now retired, he remains a regular lecturer at the Archivo Histórico del Guayas, where he shares his research on traditional and scientific medical practices.

Raúl Pacheco Pérez

Raúl Pacheco Pérez (Quito, Ecuador, 1963) is an Ecuadorian editor and literary scholar dedicated to preserving and promoting Ecuadorian literature and culture. Based at the Centro Cultural Benjamín Carrión (CCBC) in Quito, he has overseen significant editorial projects, including Ensayos Reunidos by Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco (2010). Pacheco Pérez is also active on the editorial boards of literary magazines País Secreto and Ruido Blanco, and he co-edited the influential Antología de Poesía: Ecuador Siglo XX with Iván Carvajal. His work has included serving as a juror for the “Festival de la Lira.” Through his scholarship and editorial work, Pacheco Pérez is a key figure in Ecuador’s literary community.

The Montuvio by Jerónimo Orión Llaguno Márquez

The Montuvio by J. Orión Llaguno was originally published in 1926 and offers a vivid portrayal of the montuvio, an iconic figure of Ecuador’s rural landscape. Through a blend of prose and verse, Llaguno explores the customs, lifestyle, and character of the montuvio, likening him to the guajiro of Cuba and the llanero of Venezuela. This evocative piece reflects Llaguno’s deep connection to the culture and identity of the Ecuadorian countryside, capturing the spirit of its people and their ties to the land. My translation is followed by a glossary, an Afterword, and the original Spanish version.

Max Puertas Alarcón

Max Puertas Alarcón (Loja, Ecuador, December 17, 1935 – Machala, Ecuador, July 22, 2016) was an Ecuadorian lawyer, judge, writer, and cultural figure. Known for his integrity in the legal field, he held various roles, including judge, where he was celebrated for his ethical standards. He was also an active contributor to Ecuadorian literature, authoring works such as Historia del pequeño Miguel Ángel (2002), an autobiographical work depicting early 20th-century life in Loja and Portovelo.

Jenny Romero Pape

Jenny Romero Pape (1930 – Unknown) was an Ecuadorian poet and cultural figure. Best known for her poetry collection La rosa de cristal (1958), she explored themes of love, solitude, faith, and patriotism. In 1968, she also published Por un mundo mejor, a work linked to Ecuadorian essays and Catholicism. Romero Pape was also active in the cultural scene of Guayaquil as a member of the Agrupación “Cultura y Fraternidad” (Culture and Fraternity Association). She wrote the lyrics for the anthem of the “Nueve de Octubre” National High School, created during a competition, with music composed by Divina Icaza Coronel.