List of Venezuelan writers

This is a list in chronological order of Venezuelan literary figures and their most representative works, including poets, novelists, historians, essayists, and scholars.

Contents

1 A-B
2 C-F
3 G-I
4 J-N
5 O-Q
6 S-Z
7 See also

A-B

Alfredo Armas Alfonzo (1921–1990) historian, author of “El osario de Dios” (1967).

José Antonio de Armas Chitty (1908–1995) historian, author of “Zaraza, Biografía de un Pueblo”, “Caracas habla en Documentos”.

Rafael Arráiz Lucca (born 1959) historian, essayist, poet and journalist, author of “Venezuela en cuatro asaltos” (1993), “El recuerdo de Venecia y otros ensayos” (1999) and “Venezuela: 1830 a nuestros días” (2007).

Enriqueta Arvelo Larriva (1886–1962) poet, author of “Voz asilada” (1939).

Alberto Arvelo Torrealba (1905–1971) poet, author of “Cantas” (1938) and “Glosas del cancionero” (1950).

Rafael María Baralt (1810–1860) diplomat, writer and historian, author of “Resumen de la Historia de Venezuela” (1840) and “Adiós a la Patria” (1842).

Andrés Bello (1781–1865) humanist, poet, philosopher and educator, author of “Calendario manual y guía de forasteros” (1810), “Alocución a la poesía” (1823) and “Silva a la agricultura de la zona tórrida” (1826).

Rómulo Betancourt (1908–1981) politician, journalist and essayist, author of “Venezuela: política y petróleo” (1956).

Andrés Eloy Blanco (1897–1955) politician and poet, author of “Liberación y siembra” (1938) “Giraluna” (1955) and “La Juanbimbada” (1959).

Eduardo Blanco (1840–1903) novelist and historian, author of “Venezuela Heróica” and “Zárate” (1882).

Rufino Blanco Fombona (1874–1944) historian, author of “El hombre de hierro” (1907) and “Mocedades de Bolívar” (1939).

Mario Briceño Iragorry (1897–1958) essayist and historian, author of “El caballo de Ledesma” (1951), “Mensaje sin Destino” (1952).

Federico Brito Figueroa (1921–2000) historian, author of “La estructura económica de Venezuela colonial” (1978) and “Tiempo de Ezequiel Zamora” (1981).

Luis Britto García (born 1941) essayist, author of “Rajatabla” (1970) and “Abrapalabra” (1980).

C-F

Manuel Caballero (1931–2010) essayist and historian, author of “EL orgullo de leer” (1988), “Gómez, El tirano liberal” (1993) and “Rómulo Betancourt, político de nación” (2004).

José Ignacio Cabrujas (1937–1995), writer, playwright, author of "Acto cultural; El dia que me quieras; La soberbia milagrosa del General Pio Fernández" – Colección Primer acto (1979), "El país según Cabrujas" (1992).

Rafael Cadenas (born 1930) poet, author of “Los cuadernos del destierro” (1960) and “Intemperie” (1977).

Rafael Caldera (1916–2009) politician, lawyer and essayist, author of “Andrés Bello” (1935), “Derecho del Trabajo” (1939), “Reflexiones de la Rábida” (1976), “Bolívar Siempre” (1987) and “Los causahabientes, de Carabobo a Puntofijo” (1999).

Juan Calzadilla (born 1931) poet and art critic, author of “Malos modales” (1968) and “Diario sin sujeto” (1999).

Germán Carrera Damas (born 1930) historian, author of “El Culto a Bolívar” (1969), “Una nación llamada Venezuela” (1980).

Juan Carlos Chirinos (born 1967) novelist, author of “El niño malo cuenta hasta cien y se retira” (2004), “Homero haciendo zapping” (2003) and “Leerse los gatos” (1997).

Simón Alberto Consalvi (born 1927) essayist and historian, author of “Auge y caída de Rómulo Gallegos”.

Manuel Díaz Rodríguez (1871–1927) diplomat, novelist, author of “Idolos rotos” (1901), “Sangre patricia” (1902) and “Peregrina” (1926).

Mercedes Franco (born 1948) novelist, author of “La Capa Roja” (1992), “Vuelven los Fantasmas” (1996) and “Crónica Caribana” (2006).

Alicia Freilich (born 1939), writer, novelist, journalist and educator; author of “Cuarta Dimensión“ (1975), "La Venedemocracia" (1978), "Kápler" (1987), "Colombina Descubierta" (1991).

G-I

Rómulo Gallegos (1884–1969) novelist and politician, author of “La Trepadora” (1925), “Doña Bárbara” (1929), “Cantaclaro” (1934), “Canaima” (1935), “Pobre Negro” (1937).

Julio Garmendia (1898–1977) short story writer, author of “La tienda de muñecos” (1927) and “La Tuna de Oro” (1951).

Salvador Garmendia (1928–2001) novelist, author of “Los Pequeños Seres” (1959), “Los Habitantes” (1961), “Día de Ceniza” (1968), “Memorias de Altagracia” (1974).

Alberto Garrido (1949–2007) Philosopher, essayist and journalist. Wrote 16 books about the Bolivarian Revolution.

Vicente Gerbasi (1913–1992) poet, author of “Mi padre el inmigrante” (1945), “Los espacios cálidos” (1952) and “Los colores ocultos” (1985).

Pío Gil [Pedro María Morantes] (1865–1918) novelist and essayist, author of “El Cabito” (1909).

José Gil Fortoul (1861–1943) historian and journalist, author of “El humo de mi pipa” (1891) and “Historia Constitucional de Venezuela” (1909).

Otrova Gomas [Jaime Ballestas] (born 1937) humorist, author of “El hombres más malo del mundo”, “El cofre de los reconcomios”.

Francisco González Guinán (1841–1932) journalist and historian, author of “El consejero de la juventud” (1877), “Historia Contemporánea de Venezuela” (published between 1891 and 1915) and “Tradiciones de mi pueblo” (1927).

Adriano González León (1931–2008) novelist and poet, author of “Las Hogueras más Altas” (1957), “Asfalto Infierno” (1963), “El hombre que daba sed” (1967), and “País portátil” (1968).

Pedro Grases (1909–2004) Spanish born essayist, compilator, author of “Anuario Bibliográfico Venezolano” (1942–1948).

Francisco Herrera Luque (1927–1991) historian and novelist, author of “Boves el urogallo” (1972), “Los amos del valle” (1979), “La historia fabulada” (1981–1983) and “Los cuatro reyes de la baraja” (1991).

Carlos Irazábal (1907–1991) essayist, author of “Hacia la democracia” (1939) and “Venezuela esclava y feudal” (1961).

Boris Izaguirre (born 1965) novelist and essayist, author of “Fetiche” (2003) and “Villa diamante” (2007).

J-N

Francisco Lazo Martí (1869–1909) poet, author of “Silva criolla” (1901)

Elisa Lerner (born 1932), playwright, author of "El último tranvía" (1984), "Homenaje a la Estrella: Tres relatos" (2002).

Eduardo Liendo (born 1941) novelist, author of “Los Platos del Diablo” (1985) and “El Mago de la Cara de Vidrio” (1973).

Polita de Lima (1869–1944) poet, author of “Agar en el desierto”.

Juan Liscano (1914–2001) poet, author of “Nombrar contra el tiempo” (anthology of his first six books of poetry), “Espiritualidad y literatura”, and “Los mitos de la sexualidad”.

Manuel Vicente Magallanes (1922–2009) journalist, historian and politician, author of “Miranda, Libertador de Coro” (1967), “Historia Política de Venezuela” (1972) and “El 19 de abril, Bolívar y la generación de independencia” (1981).

Cristina Marcano, author of “Hugo Chávez Sin Uniforme: Una Historia Personal” (2005).

Ibsen Martínez (born 1951), narrator, playwright, author of "Humboldt & Bonpland, taxidermistas; L.S.D. – Lucio in the sky with diamonds" (1991), "El mono aullador de los manglares" (2000), "El señor Marx no está en casa" (2009).

Leoncio Martínez (1888–1941) journalist and humorist, founder of the magazine “Fantoches” (1923), and author of “Mis otros fantoches” (1932).

Francisco Massiani (born 1944) novelist, author of “Piedra de Mar” (1968).

José Ramón Medina (1919–2010) poet and essayist, founder and director of Biblioteca Ayacucho, author of “Ser verdadero” (anthology), “La edad de la esperanza” (1947), “Sobre la tierra yerma” (1971), “Certezas y Presagios” (1984), and “50 años de literatura venezolana” (1969).

Guillermo Meneses (1911–1978) historian and novelist, author of “El Falso Cuaderno de Narciso Espejo” (1952), “Cinco Novelas” (1972), and “Espejos y Disfraces” (1981).

Augusto Mijares (1897–1979) historian, school teacher, author of “Lo afirmativo venezolano” (1963) and “El Libertador” (1965).

Eugenio Montejo (1938–2008) poet, author of “Algunas Palabras” (1976), “Terredad” (1978), “Trópico Absoluto” (1982), “Alfabeto del Mundo” (1987), and “Entre el Silencio y la Palabra”.

Guillermo Morón (1926) historian and novelist, author of “Microhistorias” (1980), “El gallo de las espuelas de oro” (1984), “Los presidentes de Venezuela” (1993).

Aquiles Nazoa (1920–1976) poet, author of “Los humoristas de Caracas” (1966), “Caracas física y espiritual” (1967) and “Humor y Amor” (1970).

Enrique Bernardo Nuñez (1895–1964) novelist and historian, author of “Cubagua” (1931), “El hombre de la levita gris” (1943) and “La ciudad de los techos rojos” (1948).

O-Q

Hanni Ossott (1946–2002) poet, author of “Espacios de Ausencia y de Luz” (1982), “El Reino donde la Noche se Abre” (1986), “Cielo tu Arco Grande” (1989).

Edgar C. Otálvora (born 1959) historian, journalist and politician, author of "La Crisis de la Corbeta Caldas".

Miguel Otero Silva (1908–1985) journalist and novelist, author of “Fiebre” (1931), “Casas Muertas” (1955) and “Cuando quiero llorar no lloro” (1970).

Gustavo Ott (born 1963), playwright and novelist, author of more than 40 plays, including “80 dientes, 4 metros y 200 kilos” (Tirso de Molina Prize 1998), “Divorciadas, evangélicas y vegetarianas”, “Tu ternura molotov”, “120 vidas por minuto”, “Dos amores y un bicho”, “Passport”, and “Pavlov: dos segundos antes del crimen”.

Julián Padrón (1910–1954) novelist, author of “La Guaricha” (1934).

Antonia Palacios (1915–2001) novelist, author of “Ana Isabel, una niña decente” (1949).

Isaac Pardo (1905–2000), author of “Esta tierra de gracia” (1955) and “Fuegos bajo el agua” (1983).

Teresa de la Parra (1889–1936) novelist, author of “Ifigenia” (1924) and “Las memorias de Mamá Blanca” (1929).

Caracciolo Parra Pérez (1888–1964) diplomat, historian, author of “Miranda et la révolution française” (1925), “Historia de la Primera República de Venezuela” (1939), “Mariño y la Guerra de Independencia” and “Mariño y las guerras civiles”.

Luis Pastori (born 1921) poet, author of “Elegía sin fin” (1962), “Tiempo de glosa” (1967).

Fernando Paz Castillo (1893–1981) poet, author of “La voz de los cuatros vientos” (1931), “Signo” (1937), “Reflexiones de atardecer” (1964) and “Entre pintores y escritores” (1970).

Juan Antonio Pérez Bonalde (1846–1892) poet, author of “Vuelta a la Patria” (1877)

Francisco Pérez Perdomo (born 1930) poet, author of “Huespedes Nocturnos” (1971), “Ceremonias” (1976), “Circulos de sombras” (1980), and “Los ritos secretos” (1988).

Manuel Pérez Vila (1922–1991) Spanish born historian, author of “Las campañas periodísticas del Libertador” (1968).

Teodoro Petkoff (born 1932) politician, journalist and essayist, author of “Checoslovaquia: El Socialismo como problema” (1969), “Proceso a la izquierda” (1976) and “Las Dos Izquierdas” (2005).

Mariano Picón Salas (1901–1965) essayist, novelist and historian, author of “Viaje al amanecer” (1943), “Comprensión de Venezuela” (1949) and “Los días de Cipriano Castro” (1953).

Elías Pino Iturrieta (born 1944) historian, author of “Contra lujuria y castidad” (1992), “Venezuela metida en cintura” (1998), “El Divino Bolívar” (2003).

Gilberto Pinto (1929–2011), playwright and author.

José Rafael Pocaterra (1889–1955) historian and short story writer, author of “Cuentos Grotescos” (1922) and “Memorias de un venezolano de la decadencia” (1936).

Tomás Polanco Alcántara (1927–2002) historian, author of “Juan Vicente Gómez, Aproximación a una biografía” (1990) and “Bolívar: Vida, Obra Y Pensamiento” (2002).

Inés Quintero (born 1965), historian, author of "La criolla principal: María Antonia Bolîvar hermana del Libertador" (2003), "El último marqués" (2005), "La palabra ignorada" (2008).

José Antonio Ramos Sucre (1890–1930) poet, author of “La Torre de Timón” (1925), “El cielo de esmalte” (1929) and “Las formas del fuego” (1929).

Lucia Raynero (born 1955) historian, author of “La noción de libertad en los politicos venezolanos del siglo XIX” (2001), “Clio frente al espejo” (2007).

Ernesto Luis Rodríguez (1916–1999) poet, author of “Cantares de Tierra Llana” (1938), “Pasitrote” (1948), “La copla infinita” (1961) and “Desde el Olvido” (1995).

Simón Rodríguez (1769–1854) philosopher and educator, author of “Sociedades Americanas” (1828).

Manuel Rodríguez Cárdenas (1912–1991) poet, author of “Esa canción es de mi pueblo”.

Román Rojas Cabot (born 1929) poet, author of “El Combate y el Vacío” (1996), and “Encuentros” (2004).

Manuel Vicente Romerogarcía (1861–1917) novelist and journalist, author of “Peonía” (1890).

Rafael Ángel Rondón Márquez (1898–1966) historian, author of “Guzmán Blanco, el autócrata civilizador” (1944).

Julio Rosales (1885–1970) novelist, author of “Aires Puros” (1945).

Jesús Rosas Marcano (1930–2001) poet, journalist and educator, author of “Proclama de la espiga” (1958), “Cotiledón, Cotiledón, la vida” (1965), “Manso vidrio del aire” (1968), “Así en la tierra como en el cielo” (1976).

Juan Germán Roscio (1762–1821) politician, lawyer and writer, author of “El triunfo de la libertad sobre el despotismo” (1817).

S-Z

José Luis Salcedo Bastardo (1926–2005) historian, author of “Historia Fundamental de Venezuela” (1977).

Oscar Sambrano Urdaneta (1929–2011) essayist and compilator, author of “Aproximaciones a Bello”, “Poesía contemporánea de Venezuela”, “Literatura hispanoamericana”.

Juan Sánchez Peláez (1922–2003) poet, author of “Poesía 1951–1981”.

Jesús Sanoja Hernández (1930–2007) journalist and historian, author of “Entre golpes y revoluciones” (2007).

Tomás Straka (born 1972) historian, author of “La Voz de los Vencidos” (2006), “Las Alas de Ícaro”, “Un Reino para este mundo” (2006), “Contra Bolívar” (2009), “La épica del desencanto” (2009).

José León Tapia (1928–2007) physician and historian, author of “Por aquí pasó Zamora” (1972), “Maisanta” (1976) and “El tigre de Guaitó” (1979).

Ana Enriqueta Terán (born 1918) poet, author of “Casa de hablas” (1991).

Fermín Toro (1807–1865) politician, diplomat, essayist and novelist, author of “Los Mártires” (1842).

Carmen Clemente Travieso (1900–1983) journalist and essayist, author of the biography about “Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi” (1942) and “Las esquinas de Caracas” (1956).

Oswaldo Trejo (1924–1996) poet, author of “También los Hombres son Ciudades” (1962), “Textos de un Texto con Teresas” (1975), and “Anden Lejano” (1968).

Luis Manuel Urbaneja Achelpohl (1875–1937) novelist, main exponent of the "Criollismo" movement in Venezuela, author of "Ovejón", "En este país", co-founder with Pedro Emilio Coll of Cosmópolis magazine.

Arturo Uslar Pietri (1906–2001) novelist, essayist, journalist and historian, author of “Las lanzas coloradas” (1931), “El camino de El Dorado” (1947), “Oficio de difuntos” (1976), “La isla de Robinson” (1981), “La visita en el tiempo” (1990).

Laureano Vallenilla Lanz (1870–1936) historian, journalist and philosopher, author of "El gendarme necesario" (1911) and “Cesarismo democrático” (1919).

Federico Vegas (born 1950) novelist, author of “Prima lejana” (1999), “Falke” (2005).

Oscar Yanes (born 1927) journalist and novelist, author of “Cosas del mundo” (1972), “Memorias de Armandito” (1992) and “Pura Pantalla” (2000).

See also