Eliécer Cárdenas Espinosa (Cañar, December 10, 1950 – Cuenca, September 26, 2021) was a renowned Ecuadorian novelist, playwright, short story writer, and journalist. Best known for his novel Polvo y ceniza (1979), which remains the best-selling novel in Ecuadorian history, Cárdenas’s works often focused on social justice, indigenous struggles, and the working-class experience in Ecuador. His prolific career included over 20 books across multiple genres, with notable accolades such as the House of Ecuadorian Culture Prize for Polvo y ceniza and the Aurelio Espinosa Pólit Prize for his play Morir en Vilcabamba. Cárdenas also served as editor-in-chief of El Tiempo newspaper in Cuenca and was a corresponding member of the Ecuadorian Academy of Language.
Early Life and Education
Eliécer Cárdenas Espinosa was born on December 10, 1950, in Cañar, Ecuador, the second of nine children in a family deeply involved in education and public service. His mother, Soledad Espinoza, was a teacher, and his father, Arturo Cárdenas, was a public employee. Cárdenas’s early education was shaped by his mother, and he later attended Escuela Borja, a Jesuit school in Cuenca. His secondary education took place at Colegio Universitario Fray Vicente Solano and Colegio Borja, where he developed an early passion for literature, particularly poetry from Ecuador’s “Decapitated Generation” and existentialist writers. His teenage years were also marked by political activism, notably his involvement with Juventudes Socialistas, which led to his arrest in 1970 under the dictatorship of José María Velasco Ibarra.
In 1972, Cárdenas enrolled at the Central University of Ecuador in Quito to study law. He graduated in 1976 with a degree in Social Sciences from its School of Jurisprudence.
Literary Career
Cárdenas emerged as one of Ecuador’s most significant writers, excelling across multiple genres, including novels, short stories, theater, and journalism. His novel, Polvo y ceniza (1979), catapulted him to national fame, winning the House of Ecuadorian Culture Prize for Writers Under 40. The novel became the best-selling novel in Ecuadorian history, solidifying his place in Ecuador’s literary canon. His works often focused on social issues, and many of his narratives were rooted in the indigenous and working-class struggles of his country.
In 1987, Cárdenas earned the prestigious Aurelio Espinosa Pólit Prize for his play Morir en Vilcabamba (1988), further demonstrating his versatility as a writer. His career continued with numerous accolades for his novels and short stories, including Una silla para Dios (1997), which won the El Universo newspaper’s Best Novel Prize, and Relatos del día libre (2004), which received the Joaquín Gallegos Lara National Fiction Prize.
Apart from fiction, Cárdenas contributed as a journalist, serving as the editor-in-chief of the Cuenca newspaper El Tiempo and directing the Municipal Library of Cuenca. In 2016, Cárdenas’s contributions to Ecuadorian literature were recognized when he was inducted as a corresponding member of the Ecuadorian Academy of Language, one of the highest honors for a writer in the country. This acknowledgment of his literary and cultural impact was fitting for a writer who had dedicated his life to shaping and reflecting Ecuador’s literary heritage.
Personal Life
Cárdenas married Carmen Patiño Ullauri, with whom he shared much of his life in Cuenca. He balanced his writing career with his role as a public intellectual and cultural figure, often contributing to discussions on Ecuadorian literature and culture.
In his personal life, Cárdenas maintained a low profile, with much of his identity tied to his roles as a writer and cultural advocate. Despite his fame, he stayed rooted in the intellectual and literary communities of Cuenca, engaging with both local and national discussions on the arts, literature, and education. Cárdenas and his wife did not have children, but his legacy was passed on through his influential works and his involvement in fostering a rich cultural environment in Cuenca.
Legacy and Recognitions
Eliécer Cárdenas’s contributions to Ecuadorian literature have been widely recognized. Beyond his numerous literary awards, he served as the president of the Azuay branch of the House of Ecuadorian Culture and was a member of the jury for the prestigious Casa de las Américas Prize in Cuba. His novels and plays continue to be studied and celebrated for their portrayal of Ecuador’s social dynamics and his mastery of narrative form.
His death on September 26, 2021, from a heart attack in Cuenca marked the end of a prolific and influential career. He is remembered as one of the foremost voices in Ecuadorian literature, whose works continue to resonate both in his home country and abroad.
Timeline of Eliécer Cárdenas’s Life
1950s
- December 10, 1950: Eliécer Cárdenas Espinosa is born in Cañar, Ecuador, as the second of nine children to Soledad Espinoza (a teacher) and Arturo Cárdenas (a public employee).
1960s
- Late 1960s: Cárdenas begins writing at the age of 15, focusing on indigenous stories and reading existentialist and Decapitados poetry.
- 1969: Becomes politically active and joins Juventudes Socialistas, fighting for free university enrollment.
1970s
- 1970: Arrested and imprisoned for political activism during the dictatorship of José María Velasco Ibarra.
- 1972: Moves to Quito to study law at the Central University of Ecuador.
- 1976: Graduates with a degree in Social Sciences from the School of Jurisprudence, Central University of Ecuador. Publishes his first novel, Juego de Mártires.
- 1977-1978: Writes Polvo y ceniza (Dust and Ashes), a novel about the indigenous and working-class struggles in Ecuador.
- 1978: Wins the House of Ecuadorian Culture Prize for Writers Under 40 for Polvo y ceniza.
1980s
- 1980: Publishes Del silencio profundo.
- 1985: Publishes Siempre se mira el cielo.
- 1987: Wins the Aurelio Espinosa Pólit Prize for his play Morir en Vilcabamba (1988).
- 1989: Publishes Los diamantes y los hombres de provecho.
1990s
- 1990: Publishes Diario de un idólatra, a finalist for the Rómulo Gallegos Prize.
- 1991: Elected president of the Azuay branch of the House of Ecuadorian Culture. Wins third prize at the National Biennial Novel Contest for Que te perdone el viento (May the Wind Forgive You).
- 1997: Wins the El Universo Newspaper’s Best Novel Prize for Una silla para Dios.
2000s
- 2000: Publishes El oscuro final del Porvenir.
- 2004: Receives the Joaquín Gallegos Lara National Fiction Prize for Relatos del día libre.
- 2008: Publishes Raffles manos de seda and El árbol de los quemados.
2010s
- 2013: Publishes El héroe del brazo inerte and El enigma de la foto partida.
- 2015: Publishes Las antiguas mañanas.
- 2016: Becomes a corresponding member of the Ecuadorian Academy of Language.
- 2016: Publishes Cabalgata Nocturna.
2020s
- September 26, 2021: Eliécer Cárdenas passes away in Cuenca, Ecuador, due to a heart attack at the age of 70.
Throughout his life, Cárdenas received several important literary honors, served as editor-in-chief for El Tiempo newspaper, directed the Municipal Library of Cuenca, and participated as a jury member for the Casa de las Américas Prize. His works continue to be studied and revered in Ecuador and beyond.
Videos
Eliecer Cardenas interviewed on La Caja de Pandora
A documentary about Eliecer Cardenas’s famous novel Polvo y ceniza
An interview with ELIÉCER CÁRDENAS
Selected Works
Novels
- Juego de Mártires (1976)
- Polvo y ceniza (1979) House of Ecuadorian Culture Prize for Writers Under 40.
- Del silencio profundo (1980)
- Siempre se mira el cielo (1985)
- Las Humanas Certezas (1986)
- Los diamantes y los hombres de provecho (1989)
- Diario de un idólatra (1990)
- Que te perdone el viento (1991) – Third Prize in the National Biennial Novel Contest.
- Una silla para Dios : (novela) (1997) “El Universo” Newspaper’s Best Novel Prize
- El oscuro final del Porvenir (2000)
- Las innumerables tribus de los muertos: novela (2004)
- El viaje de Padre Trinidad (2005)
- Raffles manos de seda: (la leyenda de unbandido): novela (2008)
- El árbol de los quemados: novela (2008)
- La extraña dama inglesa: novela de misterio (2009)
- El pinar de Segismundo (2013)
- El héroe del brazo inerte (2013)
- El enigma de la foto partida: (novela) (2013)
- Un fantasma en la oficina (2015) – A novel for young audiences.
- Las antiguas mañanas (2015)
- Una piedra y su viaje (2016).
- Cabalgata Nocturna (2016)
- Amigos en apuros (2018)
Theater
- Morir en Vilcabamba : teatro (1998) The Aurelio Espinosa Pólit Literature Prize
- El último amor de Neruda (1999)
- Un balcón en cada pueblo
Chronicle
- Guerra y paz en Paquisha (1981)
Short-stories
- Hoy, al general … Cuentos (1971)
- La incompleta hermosura : relatos (1996)
- El ejercicio y otros cuentos (2004)
- Relatos del día libre : cuentos (2004) Joaquín Gallegos Lara National Fiction Prize
Articles
- Háblanos, Bolívar (1983)
- Del silencio profundo (1986)
References
- Wikipedia, “Eliécer Cárdenas.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- Ecuadorian Literature, “Eliécer Cárdenas.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- UCuenca Press, “Las lagunas son los ojos de la Tierra.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- Editorial El Conejo, “Eliécer Cárdenas.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- El Comercio, “El escritor y cronista Eliécer Cárdenas falleció a los 70 años.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- Académica Ecuatoriana de la Lengua, “Eliécer Cárdenas Espinosa.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- Goodreads, “Eliécer Cárdenas.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- Ecured, “Eliécer Cárdenas.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.