Lucrecia Maldonado (Quito, May 24, 1962) has written novels, poetry, short stories, children’s literature, and nonfiction. Since 1991 Maldonado has been a language and literature professor at the American School of Quito. Her first novel “Salvo el calvario” (2005) won the prestigious Aurelio Espinosa Pólit Prize.
Continue reading “Lucrecia Maldonado”Category: Writers from Quito
Sandra Enríquez Garzón
Sandra Enríquez Garzón (Quito, August 10, 1963) is an Ecuadorian writer. From a very young age, she developed a love for reading and the arts, often indulging in narrating stories of her own invention. Her adolescence went by almost unnoticed as she started working at a young age. Tired of the conventional lifestyle, in 1992 she made the decision to move to the Valle de Mindo in the northwest of Pichincha. Her childhood was surrounded by nature, rivers, and animals. Being a lover of good cuisine, she opened a restaurant that became a meeting point for many people for 14 years. At the age of 56, after having traveled through South America by land and seeking new inspiration, she wrote her first novel, “Espejos Rotos” (“Broken Mirrors”). The novel, set between 1830 and 1852, explores the theme of freedom in a historical context, woven into a story of love, magic, and humor. Enríquez has described it as “a story that reflects the years of the past in a broken mirror.”
Continue reading “Sandra Enríquez Garzón”Aurelio Espinosa Pólit
Father Aurelio Espinosa Pólit was an Ecuadorian Jesuit priest, writer, poet, translator, literary critic and university professor. His works carry religious, historical and cultural themes. He was born on July 11, 1894 in Quito Ecuador and died on February 21, 1961 at the age of 66. At the age of four, he and his family fled to Europe due to political reasons. He furthered his studies in Barcelona, Granada and in Cambridge. He returned to Ecuador in 1928, becoming one of the country’s most famous and respected writers.
Continue reading “Aurelio Espinosa Pólit”José Hidalgo Pallares
José Hidalgo Pallares (Quito, 1980) is an Ecuadorian economist, novelist, and short story writer. He is the author of the short story books La vida oscura (2003) and Historias cercanas (2005, winner of the Joaquín Gallegos Lara Prize), and El manual de la derrota (2019, winner of the Joaquín Gallegos Lara Prize). His novels include Sábados de fútbol (2007) and La búsqueda (2013). His short stories have also been published in anthologies in Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Cuba and the United Kingdom.
Continue reading “José Hidalgo Pallares”Jorge Icaza reading from his prose (Spanish audio)
Ecuadorian novelist and playwright Jorge Icaza (1906-1978) reading from his prose. Recorded May 2-3, 1961, at the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, Quito.
Continue reading “Jorge Icaza reading from his prose (Spanish audio)”Jorge Icaza
Jorge Icaza Coronel (Quito, June 10, 1906 – Ibidem, May 26, 1978) is indisputably the most renowned Ecuadorian author of the 20th century. His impactful storytelling, exemplified in critically acclaimed novels such as “Huasipungo” and “El Chulla Romero y Flores,” presented an unflinching portrayal of Ecuadorian societal conditions, particularly the trials of indigenous and mestizo communities. Icaza’s “Huasipungo,” which brought the issue of rural exploitation to the global stage, has been translated into more than 15 languages, including two English versions, signifying his far-reaching influence. His status as Ecuador’s literary giant is not just confined to his homeland; his work has significantly shaped Latin American literature. His later role as Ecuador’s ambassador to Russia further exemplifies his multifaceted contributions. Icaza’s legacy has transcended time; his work continues to inspire and influence, marking him as a towering figure in Ecuadorian and Latin American literature of the 20th century.
Continue reading “Jorge Icaza”