Posts - Ecuadorian Literature

Jacinto Santos Verduga

Jacinto Santos Verduga (Bahía de Caráquez, September 16, 1944 – Guayaquil, December 2, 1967) was an Ecuadorian poet known for his emotionally charged and existentially reflective works. Despite his short life, Chintolo, as he was affectionately called, published three notable poetry collections: Testimonio (1965), La Llaga Insomne (1967), and Con Los Días Contados (1967). His poetry, marked by themes of nostalgia, sorrow, and a deep contemplation of life and death, continues to be celebrated posthumously, with unpublished poems discovered decades after his death contributing to his enduring literary legacy.

Pablo Guerrero Gutiérrez

Fidel Pablo Guerrero Gutiérrez (Quito, Ecuador, November 1, 1962) is a prominent Ecuadorian musical historian, researcher, and author. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Guerrero has written more than 20 books on Ecuadorian music, including the comprehensive Enciclopedia de la música ecuatoriana. He studied at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música and holds a degree in Musical Pedagogy from the Universidad Técnica de Manabí. Guerrero is the founder of the Corporación Musicológica Ecuatoriana (CONMÚSICA) and has been recognized by the Academia Nacional de Historia for his extensive contributions to preserving Ecuador’s musical heritage.

Socorro Freire Enríquez

Socorro Freire Enríquez (Riobamba, October 27, 1953) is an Ecuadorian writer, poet, and educator known for her contributions to literature and education. She holds advanced degrees in pedagogy and educational management, and has served as a professor and literacy advocate at the Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo. A recipient of numerous literary awards, including the Benjamín Carrión Prize, she has published poetry, essays, and short stories in works such as “Voces Azules a Vuelo de Pájaro”. She is also the founder of the Association of Contemporary Writers of Ecuador and an active member of international literary organizations.

Telmo N. Vaca

Telmo N. Vaca del Pozo (San José de Chimbo, Ecuador, 1906 – Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1950) was a prominent Ecuadorian poet, journalist, and lawyer known for his revolutionary spirit and lyrical poetry. He gained national recognition in the 1920s with works like Labios románticos (1927) and Voz de bronce y otras voces (1928), which showcased his poetic originality and social consciousness. Vaca was also active in Ecuador’s political and intellectual spheres, founding the Semanario La Espiga and contributing to numerous publications. His legacy endures through his literary contributions and his advocacy for justice and ethical journalism.

Efraín Torres Chaves

Efraín Torres Chaves (Guaranda) was a distinguished Ecuadorian lawyer, professor, and prolific author in the fields of law and social sciences. He served as a professor of criminal law at the Faculty of Jurisprudence and Social Sciences of the Universidad Central del Ecuador for 35 years and held prominent positions such as President of the Academy of Lawyers and the Academy of Law and Social Sciences of Quito. He also served as a Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice and president of its Second Chamber in 1980. Torres Chaves published numerous works, including El crimen del silencio (1990), La trayectoria de los semi-locos (1952), Pirámides truncadas, and Breves Comentarios al Código Penal del Ecuador (four volumes), for which he won the Gold Medal in 1979. His extensive contributions to legal scholarship, particularly in criminal law, earned him national recognition and several awards.

Elisa C. Mariño de Carvajal

Elisa C. Mariño de Carvajal (Guaranda, March 30, 1894 – June 29, 1977) was an Ecuadorian poet, journalist, and cultural advocate. She authored several poetry collections, including Procelarias, Campanas de Bronce, and Asfodelos, and wrote the lyrics to the Himno de Guaranda. A prominent figure in Ecuadorian literary circles, she founded the Centro de Periodismo and was a member of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. Her work contributed significantly to the cultural life of her hometown and the country, cementing her legacy as a leading intellectual of her time.

José Félix Silva

José Félix Silva (Guaranda, 1929 – unknown) was an Ecuadorian poet, journalist, and professor known for his politically charged poetry and commitment to left-wing revolutionary ideals. A significant figure in Ecuador’s intellectual and literary scene, he taught at the Central University of Ecuador and led the School of Journalism. Silva published notable works such as Canto a la Tierra desolada and El fuego delirante, which reflected his concerns about social justice and the human condition. He was also a mentor to younger poets in the Tzántzico Group, influencing Ecuador’s countercultural movements.

Carlos Bazante

Carlos Bazante Morejón (La Asunción, Bolívar, 1914 – date unknown) was an Ecuadorian poet, educator, and writer. He obtained his law degree in Quito and later taught at the “Sebastián de Benalcázar” high school and the University of Esmeraldas. Bazante’s literary work focused on poetry, publishing several collections, including Pecho Agreste (1953) and Yo era un Poeta Provinciano (1983). His writings, deeply rooted in the culture and social issues of Ecuador, appeared in notable publications such as Revista Altiplano and Letras del Ecuador. He is remembered for his contributions to Ecuadorian literature and education.

Roberto Alfredo Arregui Chauvín

Roberto Alfredo Arregui Chauvín (Guaranda, October 22, 1915 – date unknown) was an Ecuadorian educator, poet, and lawyer. He served as rector and professor of Literature and Philosophy at the Pedro Carbo School in Guaranda for thirty years and was a founding member of the Bolívar chapter of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. His poetry, mainly published in magazines, earned him several local awards, including the Trébol de Oro y Plata at the Riobamba Floral Games. Arregui also published a legal treatise, De las presunciones, which won the prestigious “Luis Felipe Borja” award, highlighting his contributions to both literature and law.

Luis E. Falconí Hidalgo

Luis E. Falconí Hidalgo (Guaranda, July 14, 1910 – September 1, 1989) was an Ecuadorian writer and poet known for his contributions to indigenista literature and his dedication to promoting culture in Bolívar Province. Educated in Guaranda and Quito, Falconí published novels such as Así Nació el Día (1958), a work rooted in Ecuadorian landscapes and indigenous themes, and La Casa Encantada (1981), which explores local legends. He also wrote children’s poetry, winning national recognition in 1980. His work was supported by institutions like the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, cementing his legacy in Ecuadorian literature.

Augusto César Saltos

Augusto César Saltos Jarrín (Guaranda, December 18, 1899 – Guaranda, August 26, 1976) was a prominent Ecuadorian lawyer, writer, and cultural advocate. He served as a member of the Supreme Court of Justice and was deeply involved in social justice, advocating for the rights of workers and indigenous peoples. A co-founder of the Socialist Party in Ecuador, Saltos also participated in international peace conferences. He was a prolific author, known for his dramas, such as El Minero (1940) and Queriendo ser Grande (1943), which addressed social issues, and for works on Ecuadorian history and folklore, including El Cacique Huaranga (1969). Saltos led the Bolívar branch of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana from 1952 to 1970.

Piedad Larrea Borja

Piedad Larrea Borja (Quito, December 21, 1912 – Quito, June 2001) was an Ecuadorian writer, poet, philologist, and professor. As the first woman to join the Academia Ecuatoriana de la Lengua (Ecuadorian Academy of Language), where she served as secretary for many years, she played a significant role in Ecuadorian intellectual life. She earned a doctorate in Hispanic Philology from the University of Salamanca and later taught at the Universidad Central del Ecuador. Her literary works, which include essays, poetry, and linguistic studies, address themes of Ecuadorian identity, language, and social issues. In 1994, she was awarded the prestigious “Manuela Espejo” Prize by the Municipality of Quito, further cementing her legacy as a pioneering figure in Ecuadorian culture and education.

Irving Iván Zapater

Irving Iván Zapater (Quito, 1944) is an Ecuadorian lawyer, historian, and cultural leader. He holds a Doctorate in Jurisprudence with postgraduate studies in Economics from La Sapienza University in Rome and in History from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. A long-time professor and former Vice Dean at the Faculty of Jurisprudence at his alma mater, Zapater also served as Director of the Central Bank of Ecuador’s Center for Research and Culture (1981-1993) and led the National Council of Culture (1999-2000). He has authored several notable works on Ecuadorian history and economics, including La Vida de Cada Día and Imágenes del Ecuador en el Siglo XX, and was Director of the Revista Nacional de Cultura.

Antonio Montalvo Viteri

Antonio Montalvo Viteri (Ambato, March 24, 1901 – Quito, July 9, 1953) was an Ecuadorian poet, literary critic, and cultural figure who played a key role in shaping early 20th-century Ecuadorian literature. He co-founded the influential newspaper El Espectador in 1921, published his first poetry collection Alba de Ensueño in 1922, and later helped establish the literary magazine El Cosmopolita in 1924. A member of several intellectual societies, he also co-founded the Grupo América in 1931. His 1947 biography of Eugenio Espejo is regarded as one of the best on the subject, cementing his reputation as both a poet and a biographer.

Diego Montalvo

Diego Montalvo (Quito, 1995) is an Ecuadorian writer and journalist. He is a graduate of the Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), where he studied journalism. Montalvo gained recognition in the literary world with his anthology Suspenso en Letras (2012), and he has been an active member of the literary and cultural community, serving in roles such as a member of the Academic Section of Literature of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. In journalism, he has contributed to magazines like Leo and Emprendedores, and currently writes opinion pieces for La República, focusing on political and social issues.