Although Ecuador has produced some great writers, the authors are not widely known outside the country when you compare them to other writers within the Latin American community. Many of the works are in Spanish and haven’t been translated; therefore, this could be a reason as to why Ecuadorian literature is not as widespread as in other places.
Due to the political turmoil that sometimes goes on in this country, many of its citizens have taken to using graffiti to get their messages across. I guess you can include this as a type of literature; although, it’s not written in a book format. Many of its people, though, do take this type of writing seriously as many times this graffiti-type writing is quoted by journalists throughout the country.
English translated books, which narrate a comprehensive history of Ecuador are not easily found within the country; therefore, this makes it difficult to get a handle on the overall view of its history by outsiders.
Some of the more well known authors are those such as Juan Leon Mera, Juan Montalvo, Luis A. Martinez, and Gonzalo Zaldumbide. Juan Leon Mera wrote the novel Cumanda in 1879. It included the Ecuadorian jungle as its backdrop, which gave it it’s amazing setting structure. He excellently wrote and captured human behavior and it is very evident in this particular work.
Juan Montalvo wrote Cosmopolita. This included themes on women, liberty, his religious ideologies, poetry, and freedom of the press to name a few. Much of his works were written while in exile. Some of his other works include The Seven Treatises, The Ecclesiastic Mercury, Las Catalinarias, Moral Geometry, and the Spectator. His works are filled with political points of view.
Luis A. Martinez came to the forefront with his literary work called To the Coast. In this particular novel, he discusses two of Ecuador’s principal regions known as the Sierra and the Costa which hadn’t been done before. In this book, his main hero goes on a life journey and has many complications.
Thereafter, another writer, Gonzalo Zaldumbide, comes on the scene. His first published work is called Tragic Eclogue. Other authors who deserve mention are Abdon Ubidia, Juan Andrade Heyman, Francisco Proano Arandi, Raul Perez Torres, Adalberto Ortiz, Benjamin Carrion, and Nelson Estupinan Bass.
In addition to ALL the previously mentioned authors, three other authors come to the forefront with their book Those Who Go Away. This particular book discusses the indigenous inhabitants from the western area of Ecuador. Those three authors are Enrique Gil Gilbert, Joaquin Gallegos Lara, and Demetrio Aguilera Malta. Shortly thereafter, two other authors come onto the scene as well. Those authors were Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco and Jose de la Cuadra. All five of these authors share the commonality of having come from the same town of Guayaquil; thus they have the reputation of the five well-known authors from this regional part of Ecuador.
Another author by the name of Jorge Icaza is also given the importance of initiating what is known as indigenous literature in the country of Ecuador. His great published work, Huasipungo, is world renowned. This particular work has been translated into many languages throughout the world.
In spite of everything, poverty and political climate, Ecuador still has managed to produce several famous authors. As a side note: Much of the early literary work was influenced by the Spanish Golden Age, but this is to be expected for all Latin American countries.
