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COLOMBIA - LITERATURE

Colombia has a long and glorious literary tradition. The country has produced numerous authors of note, including one winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. They include:

Gabriel García Márquez (1928–)
Is Colombia's most famous author and celebrity, even though he has lived much of his life in exile (mostly in Mexico City). His first novel, "La hojarasca", came out in 1955 (translated in 1972 as Leaf Storm and Other Stories). In 1967, his masterpiece "Cien Años de Soledad" gained him worldwide attention (published in English in 1970 as "One Hundred Years of Solitude"). Affectionately known as Gabo, García Márquez is a master of the literary style known as realism mágic (magic realism). In 1982 he became the first Colombian to date to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Jorge Isaacs (1837–1895)
Studied for a medical career before becoming a journalist and writer. From Colombia's small Jewish community, Amerindians became the focus of much of his writings. His 1987 novel "María" (published in English in 1890 as "María": A South American Romance) is still popular.

Porfirio Barba Jacob (1883–1942)
Became known as The Poet of Death for his avant- garde poetry (his work was considered reminiscent of Baudelaire). He became the most famous Colombian master of the style known as nueva sensibilidad (new sensibility—an odd title for irrationalism!).

José Asunción Silva (1865–1896)
Is a Colombian poet known as an early practitioner of the literary trend known as modernism. In his short life he managed to produce a lasting collection of poetry called "Los Nocturnos".