Posts

Featured

The Chulla Romero y Flores: An English Translation of Jorge Icaza’s 1958 Novel

by Jorge Icaza (1906-1978)

Translated from Spanish by Richard Gabela.

“El chulla Romero y Flores” is a novel by Ecuadorian author Jorge Icaza, published in 1958. The story revolves around the main character, Luis Alfonso Romero y Flores, a mestizo (mixed-race man) in early 20th century Ecuador. The novel explores themes of cultural identity, social class, racism, and the struggles of working people. It provides a critical portrayal of Ecuadorian society and culture at that time. The title “El chulla Romero y Flores” symbolizes the protagonist’s cultural identity crisis by juxtaposing the term “chulla,” a negative term for a mestizo who longs for wealth and social status, with “Romero y Flores,” a prestigious Spanish name, illustrating the main character’s confusion about his place in society. Set in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, this engaging and thought-provoking novel delves into the tensions between Indigenous and Spanish cultures, and is often considered a masterpiece of Ecuadorian literature.

Jorge Icaza’s “El chulla Romero y Flores,” first published in 1958 by Editorial Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, has been translated into a number of languages, including French (1960), Czech (1963), German (1965), Russian (1966), and Ukrainian (1967). What follows is my effort at the first-ever English translation of a chapter from Jorge Icaza’s novel. I did this translation as a personal project and not as a commercial one. Any comments are welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Continue reading “The Chulla Romero y Flores: An English Translation of Jorge Icaza’s 1958 Novel”

Carlos Altamirano Sánchez

Continue reading “Carlos Altamirano Sánchez”

Mark Honigsbaum

Continue reading “Mark Honigsbaum”

Fabián Luzuriaga

Continue reading “Fabián Luzuriaga”

Lady Párraga

Continue reading “Lady Párraga”

Gabriela Calvache

Continue reading “Gabriela Calvache”

Elizabeth Quila

Continue reading “Elizabeth Quila”

José Páez Gracia

Continue reading “José Páez Gracia”

Enrique Terán

Continue reading “Enrique Terán”

Arístides Vargas

Continue reading “Arístides Vargas”

Diego Cornejo Menacho

Continue reading “Diego Cornejo Menacho”

Roque Espinosa

Continue reading “Roque Espinosa”

Raúl Serrano Sánchez

Continue reading “Raúl Serrano Sánchez”

Galo Galarza Dávila

Continue reading “Galo Galarza Dávila”

Jaime E. Rodríguez O.

Continue reading “Jaime E. Rodríguez O.”

Efrén Avilés Pino

Continue reading “Efrén Avilés Pino”