Posts - Ecuadorian Literature

Teresa Crespo Toral

Teresa Crespo Toral (Cuenca, October 30, 1928 – Quito, February 15, 2014) was an Ecuadorian writer and a pioneer of children’s literature in her country. Her writings are considered classics of the genre and have been a source of inspiration for new generations of readers. From a young age, Teresa was deeply passionate about literature, and her love for the written word led her to compose her first poems. She authored several well-known books, including “Novena al Niño Jesús,” “Pepe Golondrina y otros cuentos,” “Mateo Simbaña,” which was studied at the University of Paris, and “Ana de los Ríos,” a book adapted into a film by the Convenio Andrés Bello. Teresa Crespo Toral received recognition through various awards, such as the Palma de Plata from the University of Cuenca and the first prize from the House of Ecuadorian Culture in Azuay, among others. She was married to the politician and historian Jorge Salvador Lara and had five children.

Issa Aguilar Jara

Issa Aguilar Jara (Cuenca, 1988) is an Ecuadorian poet and journalist. She has authored 3 critically-acclaimed poetry collections. Her debut poetry book, “Con M de mote se escribe Mojigata” (2018), fearlessly challenges the conservative aspects of her hometown with intimate and satirical verses, and delves into intimate themes, including her relationship with her father. Her second collection, “Poliamor town” (2020), delves into themes of love, diverse relationships, and the complexities of human connections. In 2022, her latest book, “Dos tragos de sinestesia o El diablo verde,” won the prestigious César Dávila Andrade National Poetry Prize, further solidifying her reputation as a notable voice in contemporary Ecuadorian poetry. Aguilar’s work has resonated with readers, particularly the younger generation, making her books popular in Cuenca.

Elisa Ayala González

Elisa Ayala González (Guayaquil, 1879) is considered the pioneer of short stories in the early decades of the 20th century in Ecuador. She grew up on a hacienda in the province of Los Ríos, where her father, Arcadio Ayala, a doctor, fostered her love for literature through his extensive library. Her writings were published in various Spanish, Uruguayan, Chilean, Argentinean, and Cuban magazines and newspapers. Her first short story, “La maldición,” was published in one of the international magazines to which her father subscribed. Ayala González’s works can be found in various anthologies, such as the “Antología de narradoras ecuatorianas,” by Miguel Donoso Pareja, and the “Antología básica del cuento ecuatoriano,” by Eugenia Viteri.

Paulina Jaramillo Valdivieso

Paulina Jaramillo Valdivieso (Loja, 1963) is an Ecuadorian poet, writer, and children’s literature author. She has authored six books, including “Mitos que madrugan al sol” and “Estatura de tiempo y convergencia,” which reflect both her personal experiences and Andean heritage. Her father, the poet Alfredo Jaramillo Andrade, was a significant influence in her life. Her work in literature has earned her several accolades, including recognition as a distinguished woman in literature from the Ecuadorian Committee for Cooperation with the Inter-American Commission of Women in 2009. Additionally, she has served as the coordinator of the Alfredo Mora Reyes Cultural Center for the past 15 years and hosts a cultural radio program called “Escenario.”

Alfredo Jaramillo Andrade

Alfredo Jaramillo Andrade (May 19, 1934) is an Ecuadorian poet, writer, playwright, and teacher. He has published several books, including “Los hijos de la luz,” “Canciones para la ciudad,” “Mujeres, sueños y muerte,” and “El sombrero del tiempo,” exploring themes of love, death, and nature. Jaramillo Andrade has been a member of various organizations, including the Literature Section of the House of Ecuadorian Culture in Loja, where he held the position of President from 1977 to 1986. He oversaw the direction of several of its magazines. He also founded “El Agro,” a newspaper of the School of Agricultural Sciences at the National University of Loja. He has received numerous awards, including the Loja National Poetry Prize in 1956 and the National Culture Award in 2004.

Carlos Joaquín Córdova Malo

Carlos Joaquín Córdova Malo (Cuenca, April 22, 1914 – Quito, December 19, 2011) was an accomplished linguist, writer, and government official. He obtained his law degree from the State University of Cuenca. He authored several works, including “Cestmir Loukotka y la clasificación de las lenguas indígenas del Ecuador,” “El habla del Ecuador-Diccionario de Ecuatorianismos,” “Un millar de anglicismos,” and “Hojeada sobre la lexicografía ecuatoriana,” among others. He held various government positions, including serving as a Superintendent of Banks, a member of the Monetary Board, and as the Director of the Andean Mission in Ecuador. He was also a member of the Ecuadorian Academy of Language and served as its director from 1998 until his resignation in 2008. Throughout his career, Córdova Malo received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to Ecuadorian culture and language, including the National Order of Merit in the rank of Commander from the Ecuadorian government, the “Vicente Rocafuerte” Cultural Merit Award from the National Congress, and the “Aurelio Espinosa Pólit” decoration from the Metropolitan District of Quito. He was also a corresponding member of the Uruguayan and North American Academies of Language.

Rosaura Emelia Galarza

Rosaura Emelia Galarza Heyman (Guaranda, 1877 – February 13, 1966) was an Ecuadorian teacher, journalist, writer, and a pioneer in the field of women’s publishing. She was the founder of Ondina del Guayas, a monthly women’s magazine of literature and variety, which was edited in Guayaquil between 1907 and 1910. In addition, Galarza and her sister Celina María Galarza founded the magazine Flora in Quito in 1917, which became the most important women’s magazine published in Quito. Galarza also created other magazines, including Primavera in Riobamba, Hacia El Ideal and Álbum Bolivarense in Guaranda. Along with Zoila Ugarte de Landívar, Victoria Vásconez Cuvi, and María Angélica Idrobo, all teachers at the Liceo Fernández Madrid, Galarza was a founder and director of the magazine Alas in 1934. Galarza left behind a legacy of promoting women’s education and empowerment through her writing and activism.

Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer. He is known for his unique writing style, blending satire, humor, and science fiction. One of his most famous novels, “Galapagos,” published in 1985, is set on the Galapagos Islands (an archipelago that belongs to Ecuador) which explores the evolution of humanity over a million years. Vonnegut was inspired to write about the Galapagos after visiting the islands in 1979. Despite having no direct relationship with Ecuador as a nation, Vonnegut’s novel helped to popularize the Galapagos and draw attention to the unique wildlife found there. Vonnegut’s other famous novels include “Slaughterhouse-Five,” “Cat’s Cradle,” and “Breakfast of Champions,” which often address themes of war, technology, and the human condition.

Victoria Vásconez Cuvi

Victoria Vásconez Cuvi (Latacunga, September 7, 1891 – Quito, May 29, 1939) was an Ecuadorian writer and feminist. She was part of a literary circle that included Zoila Ugarte de Landívar and Morayma Ofyr Carvajal. Vásconez Cuvi was an influential figure in her time, having served as a member of various organizations such as the Bolivarian Society and the International Commission of the Second Pan American Congress. Her works include “Ensayos Literarios,” “Problemas Educativos,” “Vida de Mariana de Jesús,” and “Actividades Sociales y Domésticas de la Mujer.” A school in Latacunga, Unidad Educativa Victoria Vasconez Cuvi, bears her name.

Mariasol Pons

Mariasol Pons Cruz (Guayaquil, 1979) is an Ecuadorian novelist known for her captivating storytelling. Pons has authored several notable works, including “La Chica” (2013), “El libro de Olga” (2017), and “¿De quién son estas piernas?” (2021). Her debut novel, “La Chica,” delves into the world of drug trafficking, while “El libro de Olga” draws inspiration from Bram Stoker’s Dracula and explores complex characters in historical contexts. In “¿De quién son estas piernas?” Pons ventures into the realm of the future, challenging notions of identity and autonomy. Pons’ distinctive writing style and ability to engage readers have garnered recognition and acclaim in the literary community. Currently, she resides in Guayaquil and works as an editorialist for the newspapers Diario Expreso, Diario de Manabí, and La República.

Luis Espinosa Goded

Luis Espinosa Goded is a Spanish professor of economics, researcher, and columnist who currently resides in Ecuador. He is a faculty member at the College of Business Administration and Economics at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. In 2019, he co-authored the book “Crónicas del socialismo del siglo XXI” with professor Andrés Ortiz Lemos. The book provides a critical perspective on 20th century socialism in Ecuador.

Raúl Rojas Hidalgo

Raúl Rojas Hidalgo (born 1944) is an Ecuadorian poet and novelist. His collection of poetry, “Como el agua” [Like Water], was published by the House of Ecuadorian Culture in 1988. In 1990, his novel “Una buena razón para matar” [A Good Reason To Kill] was featured in the First Ecuadorian Novel Biennial. In 2004, Rojas published another collection of poetry called “Salmos de amor a las seis de la tarde” [Love Psalms at Six in the Evening].

Tamara Mejía Molina

Tamara Mejía Molina (Guayaquil, 1987) is an Ecuadorian poet and art critic. She is the author of several books, including “Esto soy yo, Marakaramazov,” “Historia esculpida de Manuel Velastegui,” and “Últimos días de una herida,” and has written more than 20 art criticism articles for cultural newspapers. Molina’s work as a poet has brought her international recognition, and she has been invited to participate in various poetry festivals in Ecuador and abroad. In 2022, her poetry book “Últimos días de una herida,” was awarded the Ileana Espinel Cedeño Poetry Festival Award.

Pablo Escandón Montenegro

Pablo Escandón Montenegro (May 30, 1974) is an Ecuadorian fiction writer and social communicator with a PhD in Communication and Contemporary Information from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. His research focuses on topics such as heritage, museums, memory recovery, and digital literature. He has served as a professor for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs at various universities in Ecuador, and is the director of Arsquitensis. Currently, he works as a full-time professor in the Communication area at Simón Bolívar Andean University in Ecuador.

Sergio Ramírez Mercado

Sergio Ramírez Mercado (August 5, 1942) is a prominent Nicaraguan author and a recipient of the prestigious Cervantes Prize. In February of 2023, he accepted an offer of Ecuadorian citizenship from President Guillermo Lasso after being exiled from Nicaragua in 2021 and subsequently stripped of his nationality in 2023, along with 93 other individuals, by the government of Daniel Ortega, who branded them as traitors. He was a key figure in 1979 revolution, served in the leftist Government Junta of National Reconstruction and as vice president of the country 1985–1990 under the presidency of Daniel Ortega. He is currently residing in Spain, where he also holds citizenship, and had previously been granted citizenship by Colombia before being offered citizenship by Ecuador. Ramírez is widely recognized as Nicaragua’s “best-known living writer,” having authored numerous novels, short story collections, and works of non-fiction. Some of his work has been translated into English.