María Helena Barrera-Agarwal (Pelileo, 1971) is an Ecuadorian writer, lawyer and researcher. She’s the author of eight books on literature and history. She is an expert on the 19th century Ecuadorian poetess Dolores Veintimilla de Galindo. Barrera is a member of the House of Ecuadorian Culture (Tungurahua chapter), the National Academy of History of Ecuador, the PEN American Center, the National Book Critics Circle of the United States, the India International Centre (India), and the Association of Hispanic Feminist Literature and Culture. She is a recurring contributor to the magazine Artes of the newspaper La Hora. Her book “Merton y Ecuador: La búsqueda del país secreto” was awarded the Aurelio Espinosa Pólit Prize in 2010. Barrera currently lives in New York, U.S.
Early Life and Education
María Helena Barrera-Agarwal was born in 1971 in Pelileo, Tungurahua, Ecuador. She pursued higher education in law, graduating with a doctorate in law and an attorney degree from the Central University of Ecuador in 1995. Furthering her studies in Europe, Barrera earned a master’s degree in legal informatics from the University of Montpellier in 1997, followed by a master’s in industrial property from the University of Grenoble in 1998. In 1999, she completed a master’s degree in intellectual property at Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, United States. This multidisciplinary education laid the foundation for her career as an intellectual property specialist, writer, and researcher.
Literary Career
María Helena Barrera-Agarwal is an accomplished author and historian with a prolific career, having published over 300 articles and essays in various countries, including Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Spain. She has written extensively on literary and historical topics, authoring eight notable books. She is particularly recognized for her expertise on the 19th-century Ecuadorian poetess Dolores Veintimilla de Galindo, with works such as Dolores Veintimilla, más allá de los mitos (2015) and De ardiente inspiración: Obras de Dolores Veintimilla (2016).
Her 2010 book, Merton y Ecuador: La búsqueda del país secreto, won the prestigious Aurelio Espinosa Pólit National Literature Prize. The book explores the correspondence between Trappist monk Thomas Merton and Ecuadorian artists, examining Merton’s desire to establish a monastery in Ecuador despite never visiting the country. This work, praised for its structure and balance of content, solidified Barrera-Agarwal’s reputation as a literary historian.
Her other significant publications include León Americano: La última gran polémica de Juan León Mera (2013), which examines historical debates surrounding Ecuadorian writer Juan León Mera, and Mejía Secreto: Facetas insospechadas de José Mejía Lequerica (2013), which uncovers lesser-known aspects of the Ecuadorian independence leader. In 2015, she also authored Anatomía de una traición: La venta de la bandera, delving into Ecuadorian political history.
Apart from her own writings, Barrera-Agarwal has contributed as a translator and editor. She translated important works like El Libro de Ghalib (Diwan-e-Ghalib), making this Urdu classic accessible in Spanish for the first time. She has also translated works by Kazi Nazrul Islam and Sheik Mujibur Rahman.
Personal Life
Barrera-Agarwal has lived in various countries across Europe, Asia, and the United States, experiences which have influenced her global literary outlook. She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
Awards and Recognitions
María Helena Barrera-Agarwal’s work has garnered several prestigious awards. In 1989, she won the First Prize at the Juegos Florales de la Fiesta de las Flores y las Frutas. Her 2010 book Merton y Ecuador: La búsqueda del país secreto earned her the Aurelio Espinosa Pólit National Literature Prize, one of Ecuador’s top literary honors. She was awarded the “Presea Benjamín Carrión” from the House of Ecuadorian Culture (Tungurahua chapter) in 2015, and in 2016, she received the Civic Merit Decoration from the Province of Tungurahua.
Professional Affiliations
Barrera-Agarwal is an active member of various cultural and literary organizations. She is affiliated with the House of Ecuadorian Culture, the National Academy of History of Ecuador, and the Academy of the Ecuadorian Language, to which she was appointed in November 2023. Internationally, she holds memberships in the PEN American Center, the National Book Critics Circle (U.S.), the India International Centre, and the Latin American Studies Association.
Legacy and Contributions
María Helena Barrera-Agarwal is known for her significant contributions to Ecuadorian literature and historical scholarship. Her research into figures like Dolores Veintimilla and Thomas Merton has provided fresh insights into their lives and works, while her dedication to translating important global texts into Spanish has expanded cultural accessibility. Barrera’s work continues to be highly regarded both in Ecuador and internationally, particularly for its scholarly depth and meticulous historical research.
Awards & Acknowledgements
| Condecoración al Mérito Cívico “Provincia de Tungurahua” | 2016 |
| Presea Benjamín Carrión, Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana Núcleo de Tungurahua | 2015 |
| Aurelio Espinosa Pólit National Literature Prize | 2010 |
| Primer Premio, Juegos Florales de la Fiesta de las Flores y las Frutas | 1989 |
Partial list of works
- 2009: La Flama y el Eco- Ensayos sobre Literatura.
- 2010: Jornadas y Talentos- Ilustres Ecuatorianos en los Estados Unidos.
- 2010: Merton y Ecuador: La búsqueda del país secreto.
- 2013: León Americano- La última gran polémica de Juan León Mera.
- 2013: Mejía Secreto- Facetas insospechadas de José Mejía Lequerica.
- 2014: Nazrul: prosa y poemas selectos.
- 2015: Anatomía de una traición: la venta de la bandera.
- 2015: Dolores Veintimilla, más allá de los mitos
- 2016: De ardiente inspiración. Obras de Dolores Veintimilla (Ed.)