Selva Lirica

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Selva Lirica is an anthology published in 1917 by the Chilean Julio Molina Nuñez.

Julio Molina Nuñez (1884-?) was a Chilean poet and critic; known for his controversial anthology “Selva Lirica” (published in 1917) in which the poetry of numerous Chilean authors was carefully analized, discussed and criticized. This anthology includes the first recorded critique of Gabriela Mistral, who twenty-eight years later won the Nobel Prize of Literature (1945). Julio Molina was the first person to predict her success as a poet

"...we are sure that soon there will be a revelation and a beautiful hope for all the spanish words... and in the spanish literature, we have yet to see poetry of equal caliber to what we have seen..."

Motivations to write the Anthology

It is evident that Julio Molina Nuñez was motivated to improve the quality of writers in Chile. The book starts with Mr. Molina calling upon the poetic youth of Chile to become innovators without deserting the older art.

" ...[to the youth] Do not desert the Older Art, you have to study it and take advantage of its projections..."

On September 6, 1912, Julio Molina Nuñez and his assistant Juan Agustín Araya invited all the writers of the country to submit their poems to be included in the most complete anthology to the date. People responded with immense enthusiasm without any suspicion of the real intention of Mr. Molina, which included not only the object to create an anthology, but also to offer an intense study of the poetic activity of Chile.

Selva Lirica was probably inspired by the celebrations of the centenary. The authors installed all their materials in Molina’s Office (Morandé 458, Santiago) where they begun the study, discussion, analysis and redaction of Selva Lirica, published in 1917.

Criticism

Selva Lirica was applauded and strongly criticized, mainly because of the chronological organization.

Chronological Organization

The first part of the book includes the great poets in which Manuel Magallanes Moure and Francisco Contreras are found. Between the so-called “promising authors” Vicente Huidobro and Gabriela Mistral are found, which shows the deep vision and understanding of the authors. Pablo Neruda is not mention in this anthology because in those years he was just starting to write poetry.

The Second part includes poets with classical and romantic tendencies next to other poets that are difficult to classify. The most controversial section in which the biggest polemics arose were the last part dedicated to the bad poets or “versificatiors” as called by the authors.

Importance

Selva Lirica became the most important Chilean book of that time in which names of the fathers and mothers of Chilean poetry of the XX century were announced. For its impact and transcendences of the Chilean Literary History, the "Bibliotecas Archivos y Museos" (DIBAM) and the LOM ediciones, decided to publish a rendition to this polemic anthology in 1995.

Pablo Neruda (Nobel Prize winner 1976) mentioned Selva Lirica in his book “Confieso que he Vivido” (year)

"...Selva Lirica. This was the romantic title of the great anthology of Julio Molina Nuñez... this is a book that has everything, full of greatness and generosity. This is the poetic pen of a confused time...[Selva Lirica is full of] extremely pure splendor..."

Important Quotes from the Book

Quotes About Gabriela Mistral

Cuando sus estrofas hablan al corazón del universo, invocando la majestad de la naturaleza o estrechando entre sus brazos amantes las dóciles cabecitas infantiles, adquieren un acento de sagrada admiración, inspiraciones solemnes, suavidad de regazos maternales y ternuras nazarenas.

When her verses speak to the universe, invoking the majesty of nature, or stretching between her loving arms the docile little infantile heads, acquire a sacred accent of admiration, solemn inspirations, suave in her maternal laps, nazarene tenderness.

Other Books

Julio Molina Nuñez also published his original poetry in a book called “Hojas Secas” ("Dried Leaves") (year).

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