Chile has a remarkable reputation in the world of literature. The South American nation has contributed some of the best writers and works of literature to the international literary scene, and as a result, Chile is considered a home to great writing and great writers. From the early 20th century to contemporary authors, Chile has long been viewed as a literary stronghold. These famous writers are viewed as essential to Chilean culture and to the literature of the world. To name just a few:
Pablo Neruda: Perhaps Chile’s most famous writer, Pablo Neruda won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971, just one accomplishment of his storied career as a poet. He is known for writing in a broad variety of styles from erotic love poetry to political type of writing. Neruda contributed to Chilean life beyond his literature, serving as a politician and diplomat during the mid-20th century. The three houses Neruda owned in Chile are today open to the public as museums. He is seen as a key figure in Chilean history and literary culture.
Gabriela Mistral: A poet, teacher, and feminist, Gabriela Mistral won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1945 and she was the first-ever Latin American to do so. Her many volumes of poetry are considered vital to Chilean literature at large. She also wrote hundreds of essays and other literary works. Ms. Mistral traveled extensively serving as conduit between Chilean culture and the rest of the world.
Isabel Allende: This Chilean-American author won the National Literature Prize in Chile in 2010 and is famous for her many novels which have become extremely popular worldwide. Her style of magical realism appears in many of her works, including the famous “The House of the Spirits.” Her impact on Latin America literature, and her popularity on a global level, makes her a remarkable Chilean writer.
Roberto Bolano is a 21st century novelist and poet and he was considered the best Chilean writer of his time. His novel “2666” is considered a modern masterpiece, and in 2008 the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction was awarded, posthumously, to Bolaño. His other works, including “By Night in Chile” are essential to the Chilean literary canon. Bolaño continues the tradition of Chilean preeminence in the international literary scene.
Publishing In Chile Today
Chile is often called “país de poetas,” meaning, a country of poets in Spanish. Literature is essential to the culture of Chile and to the nation’s prominent writers from a historical and contemporary point of view, and as such it is seen as a national treasure. As a result, there is a significant publishing industry in Chile that is highly regarded within the country and around the world. There are thousands of publishing companies located in Chile, and millions of dollars of books are sold annually. Chile’s long history of well-regarded literature allows writers to have a significant role in its history and culture.
