Literature of Colombia

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Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Gabriel Garcia Marquez for his masterpiece "One Hundred Years of Solitude"
Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Gabriel Garcia Marquez for his masterpiece "One Hundred Years of Solitude"

Colombian literature, as an expression of the Culture of Colombia, is heterogenous, tropical and diverse due to the struggle between the Spanish, African and Native American heritages.

Contents

[edit] Colonial literature

Under the Spanish Empire, the main topic of the local literature was religious. Some of the main authors of this period are:

  • Hernando Domínguez Camargo (Bogotá, 1606 - Tunja, 1659), Jesuit priest and writer. His work was influenced by the spanish poet Luis de Góngora, in a cultural trend known as the Indias Baroque. His most recognized works are ”Epic Poem to St Ignacio of Loyola” and “Bouquet of poetic flowers”.
  • Francisco Álvarez de Velasco y Zorrilla (Bogotá, 1647 - Madrid, 1708). His main work was Rhytmica Sacra, Moral y Laudatiria. His writings show admiration for the work of Francisco de Quevedo and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.
  • Francisca Josefa del Castillo. Tunjan nun, recognized as one of the most important female authors of mysticism.
  • Juan de Castellanos. Wrote the longest poem ever in the Spanish language, Elegías de Varones Ilustres de Indias.
  • Juan Rodríguez Freyle. Spanish priest, wrote the extensive chronicle of colonial life El Carnero (The Billygoat).

[edit] Post-independence literature

The republic forces defeated the Spanish Empire  in the Battle of Boyacá
The republic forces defeated the Spanish Empire in the Battle of Boyacá

During the process of independence, Colombian literature was strongly influenced by the political motivations of the moment. The main literary movements were close to Romanticism.

During the nineteenth century, political writing was led by Simón Bolívar. Local journalism was initiated by Antonio Nariño. The Colombian government established the first Academy of Spanish language in the American continent, in 1871.

Other relevant authors were:

[edit] Costumbrismo

Jorge Isaacs author of the novel Maria.
Jorge Isaacs author of the novel Maria.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the main topic in Colombian literature was the colourful depiction of peasant life, tied to strong criticism of society and government. This type of literature was called costumbrista literature. Some of the authors of this period are:

[edit] Modern literature

José Eustasio Rivera in 1928, author of "La Vorágine" novel that depicts the brutal slavery of the native american forced to harvest the latex from the Para rubber tree.
José Eustasio Rivera in 1928, author of "La Vorágine" novel that depicts the brutal slavery of the native american forced to harvest the latex from the Para rubber tree.

Modernismo and modernism are reactions against the previous literature of Romanticism. Modernism's main topics are ugliness and mystery. The main modern writers are:

[edit] Stone and Sky (Piedra y Cielo)

The industrialization process in Latin America during the twentieth century generated new literary movements such as the poetic movement named “Piedra y cielo” (1939). Its main authors are:

  • Eduardo Carranza
  • Jorge Gaitán Durán
  • Jorge Rojas
  • Arturo Camacho Ramírez

[edit] Nothing-ism (Nadaismo)

The violent events in Colombia during the 1940s and 1950s, such as La Violencia and the military government of Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, resulted in the Nothing-ist movement, which is the local interpretation of existentialism and nihilism in literature. Authors of this movement are:

  • Gonzalo Arango
  • Jotamario Arbeláez
  • Eduardo Escobar
  • Fanny Buitrago
  • Amílcar Osorio
  • Humberto Navarro

[edit] The Boom

Yellow butterflies are a distinctive feature in 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia
Yellow butterflies are a distinctive feature in 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia

The Latin American Boom was a prolific period for Colombian literature.

[edit] Contemporary authors

La virgen de los sicarios is a LGBT related novel by Fernando Vallejo
La virgen de los sicarios is a LGBT related novel by Fernando Vallejo

[edit] New Literature

  • Juan Gabriel Vásquez
  • Antonio Ungar
  • Max Vergara Poeti
  • Germán Bula
  • Mario Medoza
  • Mauricio Becerra
  • Margarita Posada
  • Jorge Aristizábal
  • Juan Carlos Garay
  • Carolina Sanín
  • Oscar Perdomo Gamboa

[edit] Poetry

[edit] Children's literature

Some of the characters most recognized in Colombian children's literature and the popular imaginary are the stock characters created by Rafael Pombo, which are often found in nursery rhymes, familiar folk tales and in the textbooks for elementary school.

Other important children literature authors are:

  • Jairo Anibal Niño: with his works "La alegria de querer" (The joy of love), "Razzgo, Indo y Zas", "Catalino Bocachica" among others
  • Euclides Jaramillo: with the "Tales of Uncle rabbit".

[edit] See also

[edit] References and external links