20th Century Writers - Ecuadorian Literature

Publio A. Falconí

Publio Antonio Falconí Pazmiño (Chone, January 21, 1906 – Guayaquil, July 1991) was an Ecuadorian poet, journalist, educator, and public servant. A member of the influential “Generación Literaria Argos,” he contributed significantly to the cultural and literary renaissance of Portoviejo in the 1920s. Known for his journalistic work with El Universo and Diario Manabita, where he wrote under the pseudonym “Alpas,” he also authored two unpublished poetry collections, El cántaro roto and La ruta azul. His lyrics for the pasillo “Al morir de las tardes” remain a hallmark of Ecuadorian music. Beyond literature, he served as a professor, rector, municipal leader, and advocate for retirees, earning national and international recognition for his contributions to culture, education, and public service.

Galo Ochoa

Galo Ochoa was an Ecuadorian poet and author. He wrote Rebeldía (1935), a socially conscious poetry collection described in its prologue by Joaquín Gallegos Lara—himself only 26 at the time—as the work of a “strikingly young” poet and a “student with concerns,” suggesting Ochoa was likely in his teens or early twenties. Later, he authored Geografía Económica (1946), a study of Ecuador’s economic geography.

Luis F. Madera

Luis Francisco Madera Negrete (Ibarra, Ecuador, February 25, 1883 – Quito, Ecuador, November 23, 1987) was a chronicler, poet, historian, and jurist who served as President of the Supreme Court of Ecuador in 1952. Known for his clarity of expression and dedication to documenting the history of his hometown, Ibarra, he authored works such as Impresiones (1919), a book of poetry, and Ibarra y el terremoto de 1868 (1918), a detailed account of the city’s recovery from the 1868 earthquake. His historical writings preserved key aspects of Ecuadorian culture and journalism, including Periódicos ibarreños (1927), which chronicled 47 local newspapers. A devoted chronicler, his legacy endures as a vital contributor to Ecuador’s cultural and historical record.

Efraín Fabara Ch.

Efraín Fabara Ch. was an early 20th-century Ecuadorian poet who published his only known collection, “Parque Infantil” (Children’s Park), in Quito in 1938 through Editorial Labor. The book, subtitled “Viejos y Nuevos Alejandrinos” (Old and New Alexandrines), demonstrates his mastery of the alexandrine verse form while exploring themes ranging from cosmic and universal concerns to intimate portraits of individuals, urban landscapes, and cultural identity. In his prologue, Fabara acknowledges writing poetry in what he calls an “anti-lyrical hour” for humanity, defending the personal necessity of poetic expression despite the era’s hostility to verse. Several of his poems, including “Internacional” and “Buenos días, oh Sol, galán joven del mar” show a direct engagement with Quito’s landscape and character.

Carlos Dousdebés

Carlos Dousdebés (1902-1958) was an Ecuadorian poet whose only published collection, Surtidores blancos (White Fountains), was released in Quito in 1930 by Editorial Bolívar and edited by Alfonso and José Rumazo González. His literary career spanned from at least 1920, with his early poem “Mane Thecel Phares,” until 1958, marked by his final dated poem written on Easter Sunday of that year. Though his later work remained largely unpublished, scattered between Guayaquil and Quito, his manuscripts show a meticulous revision process with multiple versions of each poem. His writing focused on two main themes: religious contemplation and a gentle form of love poetry. While most of his work explored intimate themes and natural imagery, his brief time in New York in 1930 produced two poems engaging with urban modernity, particularly “La Nueva Primavera.” The Ecuadorian poet and critic Augusto Arias noted that Dousdebés’s soul remained “always in flight, with tragic persistence, irremediably ill” until his death.

Corina del Parral Durán

Corina del Parral Durán (Bahía Blanca, Argentina, January 25, 1905 – Buenos Aires, Argentina, February 8, 1979) was a celebrated Argentine composer, pianist, poet, and social advocate who served as the First Lady of Ecuador during her marriage to President José María Velasco Ibarra. Known for her profound contributions to Ecuadorian society, she founded the Patronato Nacional del Niño, a pioneering child welfare organization that set a standard for future social programs. Del Parral also created popular Ecuadorian musical compositions and wrote poetry under the pseudonym “Alma Helios,” leaving a legacy in the arts and social welfare that continues to be honored in Ecuador and Argentina.

Guido Mera Vera

Guido Mera Vera (Tixán, January 25, 1934 – Riobamba, July 14, 2003) was an Ecuadorian writer, poet, and physician, known for his prolific literary work spanning poetry, novels, essays, and short stories. Educated in medicine at the University of Guayaquil and institutions in the United States, he balanced a career in medical research with a passionate commitment to literature, producing eleven published books including Góndolas de Espuma, El Minuto Eterno y la Envoltura del Ser, and Murallas de Cristal. His works, marked by philosophical skepticism and social reflection, earned him national acclaim, and he won the first prize in the 1958 Juegos Florales of the University of Guayaquil. Celebrated as a cultural patron, Mera Vera also served as a key member of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, leaving an enduring legacy in Ecuadorian literature and intellectual thought.

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 known for his pioneering use of prose poetry. From a young age, Sánchez engaged in Ecuador’s literary circles, joining forces with fellow poets Jorge Carrera Andrade and César Ariosto Orellana to co-found the César Borja Literary Society, a group dedicated to literary innovation and expression. His most notable work, Palabras con Flordelina (1920), showcased his intense, emotional prose poems and included an epilogue by Gonzalo Escudero Moscoso. Sánchez contributed to several Ecuadorian literary magazines, including La Idea, Crepúsculo, and Los Hermes, and wrote an introduction to Escudero’s Los poemas del arte. His promising career was cut short by his untimely death at the age of 20, yet his work continues to be recognized for its impact on 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.

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.

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.