Salvadoran literature

Origins of Salvadorean literature

Colonial literature

During the colonial period, literature flourished in the zealously controlled the lives of recent converts to Christianity, insisting that literary expression be in the service of faith and under their careful scrutiny. Despite this, an important secular literary tradition emerged in the viceregal courts of Mexico and Lima. This literature tended to imitate the metropolitan canons, though occasionally nourished an original and memorable voice like that of Mexican poet Juana Inés de la Cruz.

The Salvadorean territory was far from the centers of culture. Literature may have enjoyed popularity among small circles of educated criollos, but there is little evidence and 1589, mentioned in Miguel de Cervantes' "El Viaje al Parnaso". In the colonial era there was considerable theatrical activity, a central aspect of popular entertainment in the settlements' festivities. During these events religious or comic plays were presented.

Religious literature

Catholic faith and rites were the unifying factor in a heterogeneous and highly stratified society. Some literary expression was linked to religiously-themed dramatic productions, staged during celebrations in villages and neighborhoods. On the other hand, some literature was addressed to a smaller, more elite readership. In the latter group are pious works, hagiographies portraying the lives of saits, and theological treatises, written by clergy born in the county, but generally published in Europe.

Among this last category is Juan Antonio Arias, a Jesuit born in Santa Ana. He wrote treatises including Misteriosa sombra de las primeras luces del divino Osiris and Jesús recién nacido. Father Bartolomé Cañas, also a Jesuit, sought asylum in Italy after being expelled from his order in the Spanish territories; in Bologna he wrote a major apologetic dissertation. Diego José Fuente, a Francisco born in San Salvador, published a variety of religious works in Spain. Juan Dían, a native of Sonsonate, authored the biography Vida y virtudes del venerable fray Andrés del Valle.

Secular literature

A major non-religious work was a manual for the manufacture of indigo El puntero apuntado con apuntes breves, by Juan de Dios del Cid, who made a rudimentary printing press to publish his work, which may have been the first press in the territory of El Salvador. The document is printed with the date 1641, but Salvadorean literary critic Luis Gallegos Valdés asserts that this date was a typographical error, and some historical references place it in the next century. Another major work was the Carta de Relación, written by the conquistador Pedro de Alvarado for practical reasons; it narrates major episodes in the conquest of the Americas.

Literature during the era of independence

By the last decades of Spanish rule there already existed considerable secular cultural activity in Central America. It was centered on the University of San Carlos in Guatemala. There, educated criollos gathered to discuss and exchange ideas of the Enlightenment. This encouraged the emergence of a literature more political than aesthetic, manifested principally in oratory and argumentative prose, both polemic and dotrinal, in which authors demonstrated their ingenuity and use of classical rhetoric.

One major figure of this era was Father Manuel Aguilar (1750–1819), whose famous homily proclaimed the right of insurrection of oppressed peoples, provoking scandal and censorship. The priest José Simeón Cañas (1767–1838) is known for his 1823 speech in the Constituent Assembly, in which he demanded the emancipation of slaves. Presbyterian Isidro Menéndez (1795–1858), the author of much of the era's legislation, was also renowned for his oratory.

The aesthetic of Salvadorean literature of this era did not have a role comparable to that of eloquent speech or journalistic writing. Literature was used only occasionally, such as anonymous verses offering satirical comment on contemporary politics, or other poetry celebrating the good name and deeds of important figures. Puede citarse a Miguel Álvarez Castro ( 1795–1856 ), autor de poesía laudatoria, entre la que resalta su oda Al ciudadano José Cecilio del Valle ( 1827 ). You can mention Álvarez Miguel Castro (1795–1856), author of laudatory poetry, among which highlights his ode citizen Jose Cecilio del Valle (1827). Parecido carácter y función tenía la célebre Tragedia de Morazán , escrita por Francisco Díaz ( 1812–1845 ), pieza en prosa que registra la gesta del héroe liberal y centroamericanista, publicada hasta 1894 . Similar nature and function was the celebrated Tragedy of Morazán, written by Francisco Diaz (1812–1845), piece of prose that registers the epic hero of the liberal and Central America, published until 1894.

La patente debilidad del Estado , la exigua vida urbana y la consecuente inexistencia de una infraestructura cultural limitaban considerablemente las posibilidades de existencia de una vida literaria autónoma. The patent weakness of State, the low life city and the consequent lack of infrastructure limited the cultural possibilities of existence of an independent literary life. Bajo estas condiciones existía una actividad artística dependiente del patrocino privado y orientada a servir gustos y necesidades de prestigio social de círculos bastantes reducidos. Under these conditions there was an artistic activity-dependent and private sponsors to serve tastes and needs of social prestige of many small circles.

Era of liberalism and cultural modernization

Para poder comprender el nacimiento de, propiamente dicho, la literatura salvadoreña, hay que situarla en el contexto histórico donde se dio. To understand the birth, proper, Salvadoran literature, it should be placed in the historical context which gave. Fue con la llegada al poder en 1876 de Rafael Zaldívar que los liberales lograron imponerse a sus rivales conservadores. It was with the coming to power in 1876 by Rafael Zaldívar the Liberals managed to impose their conservative rivals. De esta manera asumieron la fundación de un Estado nacional prácticamente desde los cimientos, dando alguna relevancia al interés por la literatura. In this way made the foundation of a nation state virtually from the ground up, with some relevance to the interest in literature.

The liberal project

El proyecto nacional liberal confiaba en que el desarrollo de una economía orientada hacia la exportación agrícola —con el café como principal producto— permitiría el salto desde la "barbarie" —para los liberales sinónimo de caudillismo, religión cristiana católica y masas incultas— hacia la "civilización", sinónimo de los logros políticos y sociales de las naciones más adelantadas de Europa. The draft national liberal hoped that the development of an economy oriented towards export agriculture, with coffee as its main product would jump from the "barbarism" for liberals mean caudillismo, Catholic and Christian religion to the masses uneducated, "civilization", a synonym for political and social achievements of the nations most advanced in Europe.

Tras realizarse gran cantidad de reformas al Estado ya su estructura, el país iba perdiendo su identidad cultural indígena y se formaba en un nuevo proyecto, cambiando parámetros y concepciones de la cultura y las costumbres. After a large number of reforms to the state and its structure, the country was losing its indigenous cultural identity is formed and a new project, changing parameters and concepts of culture and customs. Para tal efecto, era necesaria la formación de una élite ilustrada capaz de impulsar el nuevo status quo . For this purpose, necessary training of an elite capable of ilustrada the new status quo. Encarrilando la formación académica, en 1841 se fundó la Universidad de El Salvador y en 1870 se creó la Biblioteca Nacional , dotada de una colección de comentarios a textos clásicos grecolatinos comprada por decreto oficial al cardenal italiano Lambrushini. Prepare for academic training, in 1841 he founded the University of El Salvador and in 1870 created the National Library, with a collection of commentaries to classical Greek texts purchased by official decree to Italian Cardinal Lambrushini. Posteriormente el acervo de esta institución se fue enriqueciendo con obras científicas y literarias de corte más moderno. Later the body of this institution was enriched by scientific and literary works of more modern cut. A finales del siglo XIX la Biblioteca Nacional se había fortalecido notablemente y patrocinaba la edición de obras de autores nacionales, además de contar con una revista propia. In the late 19th century the National Library had been strengthened and sponsored the publication of works by local authors, besides having an own magazine. Se formó asimismo otra institución de carácter semi oficial, la Academia Salvadoreña de la Lengua , que se constituyó nominalmente en 1876 , aunque no entraró en funciones hasta 1914 . It was also another semi-official character of the Salvadoran Academy of Language, which was nominally in 1876, but not become operational until 1914.

De forma paralela tuvo lugar una actividad cultural independiente entre miembros de las élites. In parallel there was an independent cultural activity between members of the elite. Esta actividad se congregó en una serie de sociedades científico-literarias, la mayoría de breve existencia. This activity was brought in a number of scientific and literary societies, most brief existence. Excepción a esta regla fue la sociedad "La Juventud", nacida en 1878 . Exception to this rule was the "Youth", born in 1878. Pese a su composición minoritaria fue un foro muy activo de recepción de las últimas tendencias de las ciencias y el arte. Despite its minority was a very active forum for the receipt of the latest trends in science and art. Así fue tomando cuerpo una élite intelectual compuesta en particular por individuos provenientes de los rangos de la élites económicas. This was taking shape in a particular intellectual elite composed of individuals from the ranks of the economic elites.

En el terreno científico, ésta fue la época de los primeros intentos de numerar y explicar la realidad y el pasado histórico del país . In the scientific field, it was the epoch of the first attempts of numbers and explain the reality and the past history of the country. En las ciencias naturales sobresalió el trabajo del antropólogo David J. Excelled in the natural sciences the work of anthropologist David J. Guzmán . Guzmán. En geografía e historia, Santiago I. In geography and history, James I. Barberena aportó una obra considerable. Barberena contributed a considerable work.

Aunque el énfasis del trabajo de esta época recayó en el terreno científico, sus miembros concedieron un papel muy importante a la cultura estética, en especial a la literatura. Although the emphasis of work from this period went to the scientific field, its members gave a very important role in aesthetic culture, especially literature. Para las élites liberales, el dominio de la palabra y la familiaridad con las últimas manifestaciones de la literatura europea —en particular la francesa — constituían las marcas inequívocas e inexcusables de superioridad espiritual. To liberal elites, the domain of speech and the familiarity with the latest manifestations of European literature, particularly the French - were the unique spiritual superiority and inexcusable. Curiosamente, esta peculiar relación con el ámbito estético contribuyó a valorar el estatus del poeta y hacer de la literatura un elemento importante en la legitimación del poder y del Estado. Interestingly, this peculiar relationship with the aesthetic helped to assess the status of poet and literature of an important element in the legitimization of power and the state.

Modernismo and literary modernization

The history of modernismo in El Salvador dates to the controversy over the influence of romanticism that took place in "La Juventud". This denounced the teaching of Fernando Velarde, a Spaniard who stayed in the country during the 1970s, influencing young writers with his dreamy and grandiloquent poetry. His teaching had produced poetic work influenced by Spanish romanticism. Among these authors were Juan José Cañas (1826–1918), lyricist of the national anthem, Rafael Cabrera, Dolores Arias, Antonio Guevara Valdés, and Isaac Ruiz Araujo.

While still teenagers, Rubén Darío (1867–1916)—the famous Nicaraguan poet who then lived in San Salvador— and Francisco Gavidia (1864–1955) attacked Velarde's poetry drew attention instead to the model of Parnassian symbolist poetry from France. Both studied this poetry with the rigor and enthusiasm, trying to unravel its intricate constructive mechanisms and translated them into the Spanish language.

Francisco Gavidia took on the job of founding a national literature. Esta preocupación está más o menos presente a lo largo de una voluminosa obra que evidencia una erudición portentosa, aunque no siempre afortunada en la concreción artística. This concern is more or less present throughout a voluminous work that shows a portentous erudition, but not always successful in bringing the arts. Francisco Gavidia representa la expresión más decantada del espíritu liberal en el terreno del arte. Francisco Gavidia is decanted from the most liberal in the field of art. Su visión de la literatura salvadoreña abogaba por la vocación universal y el dominio de la tradición de Occidente, aunque no olvida la necesidad de rescatar y conocer lo autóctono. His vision of the Salvadoran literature advocating the universal and the dominance of the Western tradition, while not forgetting the need to rescue and to know what native.

Otros autores importantes del período fueron Vicente Acosta, Juan José Bernal, Calixto Velado y Víctor Jerez. Other authors of the period were important Vicente Acosta, Juan Jose Bernal, Calixto Veiled and Victor Jerez. Algunos de ellos participaron en la publicación literaria La Quincena, que jugaró un importante papel en la difusión de la estética finisecular. Some of them participated in the publication The Literary Fortnight, which play an important role in disseminating the aesthetic end of the century.

20th-century literature

During the first decades of the 20th century modernismo continued to dominate Salvadorean literature, though new trends began to be seen. The model of liberal cultural modernization appeared to be consolidated under the short-lived government of Manuel Enrique Araujo, who enjoyed support among intellectuals and seemed committed to a policy encouraging science and the arts. Araujo tried to give a stronger institutional base to the model of scientific literary societies with the founding of the Ateneo de El Salvador (asociación para el estudio de la historia y las letras nacionales), [ 3 ] pero este impulso se truncó con el atentado que le costó la vida en 1913 . Araujo tried to give a stronger institutional base model to literary and scientific societies with the founding of the Ateneo de El Salvador (association for the study of history and national literature), [3] but this momentum was cut short with the attempt to took the life in 1913.

Con sus sucesores, la dinastía Meléndez-Quiñónez , el camino hacia el progreso apareció ensombrecido por el retorno de males de tiempos pasados: nepotismo , intolerancia y clientelismo ; persiguiendo especialmente a la clase intelectual. With their successors, the dynasty-Melendez Quinonez, the road to progress appeared overshadowed by the return of evils of past times: nepotism, intolerance and clientelism, especially in pursuing intellectual class.

Costumbrismo and introspection

Una literatura preocupada hasta entonces por la pertenencia a un espíritu estético cosmopolita estaba poco dotada para encarar la nueva realidad política del país. Literature hitherto disturbed by membership of an aesthetic spirit cosmopolitan was reluctant to deal with the new political reality in the country. Sin responder necesariamente a un programa estético explícito, literatos de variada filiación ideológica comenzaron a atenderlas. Without necessarily responding to an explicit aesthetic program, writers of various ideological affiliation began to address them. Como resultado proliferó el cultivo de distintas modalidades de retrato de costumbres donde, bien de manera satírica, bien con espíritu analítico, se dirigió la atención a dimensiones hasta entonces excluidas del arte. Proliferated as a result of the cultivation of different types of custom portrait where either satirical or with analytical mind, attention is directed to dimensions hitherto excluded from the art. En el costumbrismo sobresalen el general José María Peralta Lagos ( 1873–1944 ), ministro de Guerra de Manuel Enrique Araujo y escritor de gran popularidad por los artículos polémicos y de sátira social que publicaba bajo la rúbrica de TP Mechín . In Excel costumbrismo general José María Peralta Lagos (1873–1944), Minister of War Manuel Enrique Araujo and writer of articles for popular and controversial social satire, which published under the rubric of TP Mechín. Su obra narrativa y su drama Candidato se caracterizó por la captación jocosa de aspectos típicos de los ambientes provincianos. His work and his narrative was marked by drama Candidate catchment funny aspects of typical environments provinces. Otros costumbristas de importancia fueron Francisco Herrera Velado y Alberto Rivas Bonilla . Other customs of importance were Veiled Francisco Herrera and Alberto Bonilla Rivas.

La popularidad que vivió el relato de costumbres se apoyaba en la creciente importancia del periodismo. The popularity of the story he lived customs relied on the growing importance of journalism. Este medio de difusión proveía algunas bases para un actividad literaria más independiente y, en consecuencia, más crítica con respecto al estado de cosas en el país. This means of dissemination provided some basis for an independent literary activity and, consequently, more critical of the state of affairs in the country. Es oportuno mencionar la propaganda político hecha por la prensa; el personaje más relevante del ramo fue Alberto Masferrer ( 1868–1932 ), quien escribió además una considerable obra en la categorí de ensayo . It is worth mentioning the political propaganda by the press, the most important character of the sector was Alberto Masferrer (1868–1932), who also wrote a considerable work in the category of test. Aunque de intención más política y moral que artística, la producción de Masferrer contribuyó de manera considerable a crear el clima que orientó a un cambio de rumbos en el quehacer literario. Although more political and moral intent that artistic production Masferrer contributed significantly to creating an environment that aimed to shift in the literary work.

Característica de todos los autores de este período fue la relativa subordinación del aspecto estético a lo ideológico, lo cual no sucedió con Arturo Ambrogi ( 1985 - 1936 ), quien llegó a ser el escritor viviente más leído y prestigioso de El Salvador. Characteristic of all the authors of this period was the relative subordination of aesthetics to ideology, which did not happen with Arturo Ambrogi (1985 - 1936), who became the most read writer living and prestigious El Salvador. En su juventud había publicado unos relatos de muy baja calidad, pero a los largo de una vida de dedicación al arte literario llegó a dominar con maestría la crónica y el retrato , publicando en 1917 un volumen de crónicas y relatos titulado El libro del trópico . In his youth he had published some stories of very poor quality, but to a life-long dedication to the literary art came to dominate the masterly chronicle and portrait, published in 1917 a volume of stories and short stories entitled The Book of the tropics. Lo verdaderamente original de Ambrogi fue que el vuelco temático hacia la exploración de lo autóctono iba acompañado de una búsqueda formal. The truly original Ambrogi thematic structure which was to explore the native was accompanied by a formal search. Ello lo condujo a un hallazgo importante, señalado por Tirso Canales : la síntesis entre el lenguaje literario y el dialecto vernáculo . This led him to an important finding, reported by Tirso Canales: the synthesis between literary language and dialect vernacular.

La representación del hablar popular estaba ampliamente presente en el relato costumbrista y era uno de los elementos que decididamente otorgaba el "color local" y que caracterizaba a los personajes "ignorantes"; por su parte, Ambrogi propuso algo bastante novedoso; incorporó al discurso voces populares, jugando con sus posibilidades literarias. The representation of the talk was widely popular in the tale of manners and was a decisive element that gave the "local color" and characterizing the people "ignorant", for its part, has proposed something quite novel Ambrogi; joined voices to the discourse popular, playing with their literary possibilities. De esta manera elaboró un propuesta estética de considerables consecuencias. In this way developed a proposal of considerable beauty. Si el lenguaje del pueblo es capaz de producir poesía, no toda la cultura vernácula es barbarie e ignorancia. If the language of the people is able to produce poetry, not every culture vernacular is barbarism and ignorance.

Parecida significación puede atribuirse a la obra lírica de Alfredo Espino ( 1900–1928 ), en la que temas y lenguajes populares acababan transformados en materia poética. Similar significance can be attributed to the work of lyrical Alfredo Espino (1900–1928), in which themes and popular languages in the area just processed poetic. Ello constituyó un suceso de gran importancia en la historia literaria salvadoreña, por mucho que esta poesía parezca anacrónica y pueril a las generaciones posteriores. This was an event of great importance in the literary history of El Salvador, as much as this poem seems anachronistic and childish to later generations.

El período que comprendió las primeras décadas del siglo XX fue importante porque marcó el paso a una cultura nacional que se vio obligada a recurrir a lo "autóctono" para definirse. The period covering the first decades of the 20th century was important because it marked the transition to a national culture that was forced to resort to the "autochthonous" to be defined. Este dato revela que la vida nacional estaba dejando de ser una preocupación exclusiva de las élites "europeizadas" y estaba arrastrando sectores sociales más heterogéneos . This data reveals that the national life was no longer the exclusive concern of the elite "Europeanizing and social sectors was dragging heterogeneous.

Antimodernism

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Salvadorean society experienced various social and political shocks that disrupted the fragile literary society. On the economic front, the crisis on Wall Street resulted in a drastic drop in coffee prices. President Pío Romero Bosque had begun a process to return to institutional legality, calling the first free elections in Salvadorean history. Engineer Arturo Araujo was elected on a reform platform inspired by the ideas of Alberto Masferrer. The economic crisis and resulting political conflict led to six decades of military authoritarianism that dramatically suppressed the proliferation of literature.

En el terreno de la actividad artística se registró una activa búsqueda de alternativas frente al Occidente moderno como ideal de civilización. In the field of art was an active search for alternatives to the modern Western ideal of civilization. El modernismo dariano abundaba en condenas retóricas al prosaísmo de los nuevos tiempos, pero a la vez estaba deslumbrado por la opulencia y el refinamiento de la Europa finisecular. The modernismo Dariana rhetorical sentences abounded in the prosaísmo of modern times, yet he was amazed by the opulence and refinement of Europe the end of the century. El modernismo condenaba la vulgaridad de los nuevos ricos, pero no mostraba disposición a renunciar a los objetos artísticos que la riqueza producía. Modernism condemned the vulgarity of the nouveau riche, but were unwilling to give up the art that the wealth produced. Entre las nuevas generaciones literarias esta actitud cambió; ya no se trataba de quejarse de las enfermedades del siglo, sino de rechazar la modernidad en su fundamento mismo. Among the new literary genre that attitude changed, and it was not complaining about the diseases of the century, but to reject modernity in its very foundation.

Desde su cargo de cónsul en Amberes, Alberto Masferrer observó la atrocidad de la crisis; Alberto Guerra Trigueros (1898–1950), como escritor salvadoreño, también plasmó en sus escritos la tendencia hacia la alteridad del modelo de progreso. From his post as consul in Antwerp, Alberto Masferrer observed the atrocity of the crisis; Alberto Trigueros War (1898–1950), Salvadoran writer, his writings also reflected in the trend towards alterity model of progress.

This search for alternatives led many to embrace Eastern mysticism, Amerindian cultures, and primitivism that that saw the antithesis of disenchanted modernity in traditional ways of life.

En El Salvador, gozaron de particular popularidad la teosofía y otras adaptaciones sui generis de las religiones orientales. In El Salvador, particularly enjoyed the popularity Theosophy and other sui generis adaptations of Eastern religions. Estas ideas tuvieron un notable poder de cohesión en una nutrida promoción literaria que contó con talentos con los de Alberto Guerra Trigeros, Salarrué (1899–1975), Claudia Lars (1899–1974), Serafín Quiteño, Raúl Contreras, Miguel Ángel Espino, Quino Caso, Juan Felipe Toruño y otros. These ideas have a remarkable power of a strong cohesion in promoting literary talent with which those of Alberto Guerra Trigeros, Salarrué (1899–1975), Claudia Lars (1899–1974), Serafín Quiteño, Raul Contreras, Miguel Angel Espino, Quino Caso, Juan Felipe Toruño and others. Estos escritores encontraron su credo estético y su profesión de vida en un arte definido como antagonista radical de la modernidad social. These writers found their aesthetic creed of life and their profession to an art defined as antagonist of radical social modernity.

Guerra Trigueros fue el artista con formación teórica más sólida de este grupo y el más familiarizado con las corrientes intelectuales y estéticas de Europa. Trigueros war was the artist with more solid theoretical training this group and the most familiar with the intellectual and aesthetic Europe. Además de ser autor de una obra destacada, jugó un papel importante como difusor de las nuevas ideas estéticas. Besides being author of an outstanding, played an important role as a disseminator of new aesthetic ideas. En sus ensayo abogó por una redefinición radical del lenguaje y los temas poéticos hasta entonces muy dominados por la estética modernista. In his essay called for a radical redefinition of the poetic language and themes until then dominated by the very modernist aesthetics. Promovió el verso libre y una poesía de tono coloquial, proclamando así una poesía "vulgar", en el sentido de redimir la cotidianidad. He promoted free verse and colloquial tone of a poem, a poem proclaiming "vulgar" in the everyday sense of redemption. Estas ideas se hicieron más visibles en las generaciones posteriores (en la de Pedro Geoffroy Rivas, Oswaldo Escobar Velado o Roque Dalton), ya que sus contemporáneos elaboraron una expresión lírica siguiendo moldes más bien clásicos, aunque ya distantes del modernismo. These ideas became more visible in later generations (that of Pedro Geoffroy Rivas, Oswaldo Escobar Veiled or Roque Dalton), as their contemporaries produced a lyrical expression following molds rather classic, though distant modernism.

Populism and authoritarianism

In the early 1930s, Salvadorean fiction was centered on the work of Salarrué, which is as diverse as it is voluminous. While uneven, his work formed the continuation and culmination of the synthesis of cultivated literary language with the popular voice begun by Ambrogi. His Cuentos de barro (1933), which may be considered the most popular Salvadorean book, uses popular speech and elevates the primitivism of country life to the status of national utopia. He often employed themes of fantasy and of Eastern religion.

Though the members of this generatino of writers did not always have direct links with the military dictatorship installed in 1931, their conception of national culture as a negation of an enlightened ideal helped legitimate the new order. The idealization of the traditional peasant and his solitary link with nature permitted the association of authoritarianism with populism, which was essential to the emerging discourse of the military dictatorship.

The 1944 generation and anti-authoritarianism

The 1940s saw the emergence of a group of writers including Pedro Geoffroy Rivas (1908–1979), Hugo Lindo (1917–1985), José María Méndez (b. 1916), Matilde Elena López (b. 1922), Julio Fausto Fernández, Oswaldo Escobar Velado, Luis Gallegos Valdés, Antonio Gamero, Ricardo Trigueros de León, and Pedro Quiteno (1898–1962). Pedro Geoffroy Rivas produced lyrical literature marked by avant-gardism and played an important role in the rescue of indigenous traditions and popular language. The poetry of Oswaldo Escobar Velado was characterized by existentialism and the denouncing of social injustices. José María Méndez and Hugo Lindo explored new frontiers in fiction.

Many writings of this generation played an active role in the democratic movement that ended the dictatorship of Hernández Martínez. However, some writers actively collaborated with the regime of Óscar Osorio.

As part of a modernization project, Osoria promoted one of the most ambitious cultural policies in the history of El Salvador. For example, through the Editorial Department of the Ministry of Culture (later Directorate of Publications, Ministry of Education), under the energetic leadership of the writer Ricardo Trigueros de León, developed editorial work of great range, which was a crucial step in laying the foundations of the canon of literature in El Salvador.

In parallel, the culture industry rose and was universalized, a process that would affect the development of literature. By 1950 the media were displacing the fine arts and traditional culture in the popular imagination, and literature was relegated to the margins. This weakness made art an easy hostage for the military regime, increasingly delegitimized by corruption and the lack of political freedom.

Literature during the civil war

El letargo literario durante la dictadura militar fue acabando al acercarse la guerra civil de los años 1980 . Literary lethargy during the military dictatorship was running closer to the civil war of the 1980s.

List of Salvadoran writers

 Felipe Romeo Echeverria

• Alberto Masferrer ( 1868–1932 ) Alberto Masferrer (1868–1932)
• Alfonso Quijada Urías (n. 1940 ) Alfonso Quijada Urias (b. 1940)
• Alfredo Espino ( 1900–1928 ) Alfredo Espino (1900–1928)
• Arturo Ambrogi ( 1874–1936 ) Arturo Ambrogi (1874–1936)
• Aída Elena Párraga (n. 1966 ) Aída Párraga Elena (b. 1966)
• Álvaro Menen Desleal ( 1932–2000 ) Alvaro Menen Unfair (1932–2000)
• Carmen González Huguet (n. 1958 ) Carmen González Huguet (b. 1958)
• Claribel Alegría (n. 1924 ) Claribel Alegría (b. 1924)
• Claudia Hernández (n. 1975 ) Claudia Hernandez (b. 1975)
• Claudia Lars ( 1899–1974 ) Claudia Lars (1899–1974)
• David Escobar Galindo (n. 1943 ) David Escobar Galindo (b. 1943)
• Edwin Ernesto Ayala (n. 1966 ) Edwin Ernesto Ayala (b. 1966)
• Eugenio Martinez Orantes
• Francisco Andrés Escobar (n. 1942 ) Francisco Andrés Escobar (b. 1942)
• Francisco Gavidia ( 1863–1955 ) Francisco Gavidia (1863–1955)
• Horacio Castellanos Moya (n. 1957 ) Horacio Castellanos Moya (b. 1957)
• Hugo Lindo ( 1917–1985 ) Hugo Lindo (1917–1985)
• Italo López Vallecillos ( 1932–1986 ) Italo Vallecillos Lopez (1932–1986)
• Jacinta Escudos (n. 1961 ) Jacinta Escudos (b. 1961)
• José María Peralta Lagos ( 1873–1944 ) José María Peralta Lagos (1873–1944)
• José Roberto Cea (n. 1939 ) José Roberto Cea (b. 1939)
• Krisma Mancía (n. 1980 ) Krisma Mancía (b. 1980)
• Luis Alvarenga (n. 1969 ) Luis Alvarenga (b. 1969)
• Manlio Argueta (n. 1935 ) Manlio Argueta (b. 1935)
• Melitón Barba ( 1925–2001 ) Meliton Barba (1925–2001)
• Miguel Huezo Mixco (n. 1954 ) Miguel Huezo Mixco (b. 1954)
• Miguel Ángel Espino ( 1903–1967 ) Miguel Angel Espino (1903–1967)
• Nora Méndez (n. 1969 ) Nora Méndez (b. 1969)
• Pedro Geoffroy Rivas ( 1908–1979 ) Pedro Geoffroy Rivas (1908–1979)
• Rafael Menjívar Ochoa (n. 1959 ) Menjívar Rafael Ochoa (b. 1959)
• Ricardo Trigueros de León ( 1917–1965 ) Trigueros Ricardo de Leon (1917–1965)
• Roberto Armijo ( 1937–1997 ) Roberto Armijo (1937–1997)
• Roque Dalton ( 1935–1975 ) Roque Dalton (1935–1975)
• Salvador Salazar Arrué ( Salarrué ) ( 1899–1975 ) Salvador Salazar Arrue (Salarrué) (1899–1975)
• Susana Reyes (n. 1971 ) Susana Reyes (b. 1971)
• Waldo Chávez Velasco ( 1933–2005 ) Waldo Chavez Velasco (1933–2005)
• Jorge Ismael García Corleto Jorge Ismael García Corleto
• Yanira Soundy (1964) Yanira Soundy (b.1964)

[ editar ] Organismos e instituciones de promoción literario

• Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y el Arte (CONCULTURA)
• Dirección de Publicaciones e Impresos (DPI)
• La Casa del Escritor
• Índole Editores
• Clásicos Roxil
• La Casita

[ editar ] Movimientos literarios

• Modernismo en El Salvador
• Generación Comprometida
• Literatura durante el conflicto armado de El Salvador.
• Generación post guerra
• Generación Mística