Posts - Ecuadorian Literature

Martha Rodríguez Albán

Martha Rodríguez Albán (Loja, 1959) is an Ecuadorian fiction writer, literary scholar, and educator. She holds a Doctorate in Medicine and Surgery from the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil and a Master’s in Cultural Studies from the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar. As a fiction writer, she is known for her short story collections Nada más el futuro (1996), which won the Joaquín Gallegos Lara National Award, and Pero es después, bajo el sol (2001). In the field of literary criticism, she authored Narradores ecuatorianos de los 50: poéticas para la lectura de modernidades periféricas (2009) and Crítica literaria y sociedad en el Ecuador (1930-2000) (2022). She currently teaches at the Universidad Central del Ecuador in Quito.

Marcela Veintimilla

Marcela Veintimilla Carrión (Zaruma, 1961) is an Ecuadorian short story writer who gained recognition during the 1980s. She was part of the Advanced Literature Workshop at the Central Bank/Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, Núcleo del Guayas, under the guidance of Miguel Donoso Pareja. Her debut collection, Cualquier cosa me invento para ver (1989), presents introspective and experimental narratives that explore identity, personal dilemmas, and societal expectations. Her work has been included in notable anthologies.

Livina Santos

Livina Santos (Guayaquil, 1959) is an Ecuadorian writer and educator known for her contributions to feminist literature in Ecuador. She gained recognition with her short story collection Una noche frente al espejo (1989), which explores themes such as gender roles, societal repression, and existential issues through a feminist lens. A former member of the Advanced Literature Workshop at the Central Bank of Ecuador, she has also contributed to various literary anthologies. Alongside her literary career, Santos has taught literature and led numerous literary workshops, shaping the literary landscape of Ecuador.

Liliana Miraglia

Liliana Miraglia (Guayaquil, 1952) is an Ecuadorian writer, storyteller, and photographer known for her short stories that blend irony, humor, and subtle reflections on women’s roles in society. She was a key member of the Creative Writing Workshop of the Central Bank of Guayaquil, led by Miguel Donoso Pareja, and her works often explore the complexities of everyday life with a minimalist and ambiguous narrative style. Her notable works include “La vida que parece” (1989; The Life That Appears) and “Un close up prolongado” (1996; A Prolonged Close-up). Many of her other stories have been featured in anthologies, underscoring her significance in Ecuadorian literature of the late 20th century.

Fabiola Solís de King

Fabiola Solís de King (Quito, Ecuador, October 8, 1936) is an Ecuadorian writer, clinical psychologist, and agronomist. Known for her penetrating exploration of human psychology, her work often delves into themes of mental health, gender, and the boundaries between reality and madness. She has published short story collections such as Al otro lado del muro (1978) and Mundo aparte y otros mundos (1983), as well as co-authored the pioneering research book La sexualidad femenina en el Ecuador (1987). Her work, characterized by experimental techniques, situates her among the leading Ecuadorian women writers of the 1970s. Her stories have been featured in several anthologies, both nationally and internationally, solidifying her as a significant voice in Ecuadorian literature.

Juan Bottasso Boetti

Juan Bottasso Boetti (Poveragno, Italy, September 27, 1936 – Quito, Ecuador, December 27, 2019) was an Italian missionary, anthropologist, and prolific author. As a Salesian priest, he dedicated much of his life to working with Ecuador’s indigenous Shuar people, advocating for the preservation of their culture and identity. He founded Editorial Abya Yala, which became a major platform for publishing works on indigenous cultures and environmental issues in Latin America. Bottasso also established the Institute of Applied Anthropology and was known for his extensive writings on mission studies and indigenous rights, becoming a leading figure in Ecuadorian anthropology.

Manuel Agustín Aguirre

Manuel Agustín Aguirre Ríos (Loja, July 12, 1903 – Quito, September 15, 1992) was an Ecuadorian educator, jurist, poet, and political leader. A prominent Marxist theorist, Aguirre was a founding member of the Ecuadorian Socialist Party and later established the Revolutionary Socialist Party. His political career included serving as Vice President of the Constituent Assembly in 1945 and advocating for socialist reforms. As an academic, he became the first dean of the Faculty of Economics at the Central University of Ecuador and led the Second University Reform. Aguirre also authored several important works on Marxism and Latin American politics.

Jean Viet

Jean Viet (France, December 31, 1920 – August 6, 1987) was a French translator and demographer. In addition to his work in sociology and demographic research, Viet is recognized for translating Spanish literary works into French. Notably, he translated and published a novel by Ecuadorian writer Jorge Icaza as Un roman: Terre indienne in three parts in the French literary journal Poésie 47 (n° 38 in March 1947, n° 39 in May 1947, and n° 40 in August-September 1947). Viet also translated Camilo José Cela’s La familia de Pascual Duarte and Federico García Lorca’s Yerma and La casa de Bernarda Alba. His contributions extended beyond literature, as he was actively involved in sociological research at the Maison des sciences de l’homme and served as a consultant for the International Committee for Cooperation in National Research in Demography.

Ivan Večerina

Ivan Večerina (Sušak, December 3, 1906 – Unknown) was a Croatian translator renowned for translating Spanish literary works into Croatian. He significantly enriched Croatian literature with notable translations, including Zli duhovi, the Croatian rendition of Huairapamushcas by Ecuadorian author Jorge Icaza, Vrtlog (La Vorágine) by Colombian author José Eustasio Rivera, Trorogi šešir (El sombrero de tres picos) by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, and Doña Perfecta by Benito Pérez Galdós.

Carlos Aguilar Vásquez

Carlos Aguilar Vásquez (Gima, Ecuador, September 15, 1897 – Azogues, Ecuador, April 12, 1967) was an Ecuadorian poet, novelist, and doctor. His work spans multiple genres, including novels, poetry, and essays. Notable works include Los Idrovos (1942), a historical novel exploring Ecuador’s political and social dynamics, and La Cruz del Machete (1928), a narrative about a guerrilla fighter. He also wrote poetry collections like Versos Oscuros (1953) and essays on public health and anti-alcoholism, reflecting his deep social commitment. In addition to his literary contributions, he held various public service roles and received the Fray Vicente Solano award in 1964 for his cultural influence.

Jorge Adoum

Dr. Jorge Elías Francisco Adoum (Kafr-Shbeil, Lebanon, March 10, 1897 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 4, 1958) was a Lebanese-born Ecuadorian writer, translator, and practitioner of natural medicine. Known by the pen name Mago Jefa, he authored over forty volumes on esoteric topics, including occultism, Freemasonry, and gnostic traditions. A Grand Master Rosicrucian and 33rd-degree Freemason, Adoum was also renowned for his healing practices, employing techniques such as hypnotism and suggestion. His works, including Poderes (1940) and Del Sexo a la Divinidad (1952), earned him a lasting reputation in Latin America’s mystical and spiritual circles.

Miguel Moreno Ordoñez

Dr. Miguel Moreno Ordóñez (Cuenca, March 3, 1851 – Cuenca, August 30, 1910) was an Ecuadorian poet, physician, politician, and philanthropist. After earning his medical degree from the University of Cuenca in 1876, he practiced medicine in Peru before returning to Ecuador, where he became known for his charitable work and religious devotion, including the construction of the Santo Cenáculo. A notable poet, he co-authored Sábados de Mayo (1877; “Saturdays in May”) and later published El Libro del Corazón (1907; “The Book of the Heart”). For his social and religious contributions, he was awarded the Papal Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Pius X in 1907.

David Aguirre

David Aguirre (Guayaquil, 1980) is an Ecuadorian author and clinical psychologist. He holds advanced degrees, including a Master’s in Psychoanalysis and a Master’s in Philosophy of Religion, along with a Doctorate in Psychology. His debut novel, El Dios del Árbol (2024; “The God of the Tree”), blends dark fantasy and psychological horror, reflecting his background in psychoanalysis. Aguirre’s work delves into themes of trauma, social alienation, and the grotesque, with influences from modern horror cinema. He presented the novel at the Guayaquil International Book Fair, establishing himself as a rising voice in Ecuadorian literature.

María Inés Tinajero

María Inés Tinajero, an Ecuadorian author, recently presented her debut novel Ritorno a Venezia at the Feria Internacional del Libro de Guayaquil. This novel tells the story of a woman who defies societal norms to become the first female gondolier in Venice. The book, published by Línea Primitiva Editorial, marks Tinajero’s entry into the literary world and explores themes of gender, tradition, and resilience.

Nataly Daniela Flores Jara

Nataly Daniela Flores Jara (Guayaquil) is an emerging Ecuadorian author known for her novel Nacidos del Diamante: Cristhalina (2024). Her work explores themes of interplanetary conflict, destiny, and personal tragedy, blending imaginative world-building with emotional depth. Flores Jara was featured at the 2024 Guayaquil International Book Fair, where she presented her debut novel as part of Ecuador’s emerging literary voices.