Carlos Alfonso Carrión Figueroa (Malacatos, Loja, January 25, 1944) is an Ecuadorian novelist and short story writer. He has won several prestigious literary awards, including the José de la Cuadra Award for his 1982 short story collection “El más hermoso animal nocturno” [The Most Beautiful Nocturnal Animal], the Joaquín Gallegos Lara Award twice, first for his 1995 short story book “El corazón es un animal en celo” [The Heart is an Animal in Heat] and later for his 2005 novel “¿Quién me ayuda a matar a mi mujer?” [Who’ll Help Me Kill My Wife?], which also earned him the “Lira y la Pluma” Award. Additionally, his work has been featured in various anthologies. In 2013, he won the Miguel Riofrío Award for his novel “La mantis religiosa” [The Praying Mantis]. Recently, in 2022, Carrión was honored with the Eugenio Espejo National Prize, the highest literary recognition in Ecuador.
Early Life and Education
Carlos Carrión was born on January 25, 1944, in Malacatos, Loja, Ecuador. He grew up in his native town and completed his primary education at Escuela Fiscal Víctor Mercante. He pursued his secondary studies at Colegio Nocturno Leones in Loja and later graduated with a teaching degree from the Normal de Cariamanga. Carrión began his teaching career while simultaneously working various jobs to support himself, including selling ice cream, running errands, and working as a child caretaker.
Carrión’s passion for literature led him to pursue higher education at the National University of Loja, where he obtained a Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters. His academic journey took him to Spain, where he received a Doctorate in Hispanic Philology from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1973. His doctoral thesis focused on Chilean writer José Donoso, reflecting his interest in Latin American literature.
Literary Career
Carlos Carrión made his literary debut in 1969 with his short story collection Porque me da la gana [Because I Feel Like It]. His early works quickly gained recognition for their bold exploration of human emotions and relationships, often highlighting themes of eroticism, power, and control. One recurring theme in his work is the controversial portrayal of relationships between older men and adolescent girls. This is most evident in his novel El deseo que lleva tu nombre [The Desire That Bears Your Name] (1989), where a young girl seduces a misogynistic grammar teacher in his 40s.
Carrión’s 1982 short story collection El más hermoso animal nocturno [The Most Beautiful Nocturnal Animal] won the prestigious José de la Cuadra Award. This success solidified his position in Ecuadorian literature. He went on to receive the Joaquín Gallegos Lara Award twice: first for his 1995 short story collection El corazón es un animal en celo [The Heart is an Animal in Heat], and later for his 2005 novel ¿Quién me ayuda a matar a mi mujer? [Who’ll Help Me Kill My Wife?], which also earned him the Lira y la Pluma Award.
His 2013 novel La mantis religiosa [The Praying Mantis] won the Miguel Riofrío National Literature Award, further cementing his reputation as a leading figure in contemporary Ecuadorian literature. In addition, his works have been included in several national and international anthologies, and many of his stories have been translated into English, Hebrew, Mandarin, and Italian.
In 2022, Carrión was honored with the Eugenio Espejo National Prize, the highest literary recognition in Ecuador, in acknowledgment of his contributions to the country’s literary landscape.
Teaching Career
Carrión’s career as an educator spanned nearly four decades. After completing his studies, he returned to Ecuador and began teaching in the Almendro neighborhood near the southern border. He later worked as a substitute teacher at the Bernardo Valdivieso and La Inmaculada schools in Loja. In 1972, he became a professor at the National University of Loja, where he taught for 38 years in the fields of Education, Art, and Communication. Throughout his academic career, Carrión remained dedicated to writing, working on his literary projects every morning before teaching. His long career as an educator contributed to the intellectual growth of several generations of students.
Personal Life
Carlos Carrión Figueroa married Flora Delfina Gutiérrez in 1975. His personal life remained largely private, but his deep commitment to both his family and his literary career is evident in the discipline with which he approached both teaching and writing.
Literary Style and Themes
Carrión’s work is known for its exploration of themes such as eroticism, love, and human relationships, often involving the complexities of age and power. His controversial depictions of love between older men and adolescent girls are central to several of his works, most notably El deseo que lleva tu nombre. These themes are often explored with psychological nuance and depth, offering readers a glimpse into the darker aspects of human desire and emotional conflict.
Carrión’s writing style is vivid, emotional, and often lyrical, combining a profound understanding of human nature with a willingness to push boundaries. His works challenge traditional views on love, morality, and power, and have sparked both critical acclaim and controversy.
Legacy and Recognitions
Throughout his literary career, Carrión has received numerous prestigious awards. In addition to the José de la Cuadra and Joaquín Gallegos Lara awards, his accolades include the Miguel Riofrío National Literature Award, the Latin Heritage Foundation Award, and the Lira y la Pluma Award. His inclusion in numerous anthologies has helped introduce his work to a broader international audience.
In 2022, Carrión was awarded the Eugenio Espejo National Prize, Ecuador’s highest literary honor, in recognition of his lifetime achievements and lasting impact on Ecuadorian and Latin American literature.
Videos
Works
Short stories
- Porque me da la gana (1969)
- Ella sigue moviendo las caderas (1979)
- Los potros desnudos (1976)
- El más hermoso animal nocturno (José de la Cuadra award) (1982)
- La sonrisa del asno (1992)
- El corazón es un animal en celo (Joaquín Gallegos Lara award) (1995)
- Doce cuentos de amor y una ballena.
- El amante sonámbulo (2008)
- Habló el rey y dijo muuu (2011)
- Una chica dormida en un caballo (2019)
- El colt 45 de Caín (2019)
- El colibrí que quiso escribir una novela (2019)
- El teniente y su cerdo de confianza (2019)
Novels
- El deseo que lleva tu nombre (1989)
- Una niña adorada (premio Nacional de Novela) (1990)
- Una guerra con nombre de mujer (1995)
- ¿Quién me ayuda a matar a mi mujer? (winner of the 2006 Joaquín Gallegos Lara award, and the Lira y la Pluma award, 2005).
- La utopía de Madrid (2012)
- La mantis religiosa (2014)
- La ciudad que te perdió (2020)
Nonfiction
- Técnicas de la novela actual (Loja, 1990).
- De Loja a Roma pasando por donde Maite (2000)
- Caballo de papel (2002)
His stories can also be found in the following anthologies
- Los mejores cuentos lojanos (Quito, 1990);
- Así en las tierra como en los sueños (Quito, 1991);
- Cuento contigo (Guayaquil, 1993);
- Antología básica del cuento ecuatoriano (Quito, 1998);
- Cuento ecuatoriano de finales del siglo XX (Quito, 1999)
- Cuento ecuatoriano contemporáneo (México, 2001)
References
- “Carlos Carrión.” Wikipedia, https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Carri%C3%B3n. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- “Sr. D. Carlos Alfonso Carrión Figueroa.” Academia Ecuatoriana de la Lengua, http://www.academiaecuatorianadelalengua.org/sr-d-carlos-alfonso-carrion-figueroa/. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- “Carlos Carrión.” Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1486803.Carlos_Carri_n. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- “Carlos Carrión.” Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, https://casadelacultura.gob.ec/postnoticias/28687/. Retrieved September 24, 2024.