Notable Mexican Authors and Poets

Some of the well-known authors of Mexican literature and poetry include Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Carlos Fuentes, Jose Vasconcelos C., Nobel prize-winner Octavio Paz, Fray Servando Teresa de Mier, Juan Rulfo, José Joaquin Fernandez de Lizardi, Mariano Azuela, and Elena Garro.

Carlos Fuentes: Actually born in Panama of Mexican parents and returning to live in Mexico during his teenage years, Carlos Fuentes is one of Mexico’s contemporary authors of note. Books include: La muerte de Artemio Cruz (1962); Gringo Viejo (1985), which had the distinction of being the first American bestseller by a Mexican author.

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz: a 17th C. scholar, writer and defender of women’s rights and personal freedom, born Juana Asbaje y Ramirez de Santillana in what is now the state of Mexico. She learned to read and write at a very early age in a time when girls did not commonly receive any education at all.  She authored a great many poems and plays as well as carols for the Cathedrals of Mexico, Puebla, and Oaxaca. (1648-1695)

Octavio Paz Lozano; Mexican author, diplomat and poet. Octavio Paz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990. His wife from 1938 to 1959 was Elena Garro, another prominent Mexican writer. Books by Octavio Paz include: El Laberinto de la Soledad (“The Labyrinth of Solitude“); The Traps of Faith – a biography of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz; Piedra de Sol (poetry);  and The Other Mexico.

Elena Garro: One of Mexico’s most notable female authors and wife for a time of Octavio Paz, Elena Garro was a prolific writer of novels, short stories and theater pieces, among other works. Books by Elena Garro include: Los Recuerdos del Porvenir (Recollections of Things to Come) ; Busca mi esquela & Primer amor ( “Look for My Obituary” and “First Love”). Plays include Felipe Ángeles and Un hogar sólido (“A Solid Home”).

Mariano Azuela: A Mexican author well known for his stories of the Mexican Revolution. A physician, he served as field doctor during that historical era. His writings include the book Los de Abajo (“The Underdogs“); La Luciernaga (“The Firefly”), and Cien años de Novelas Mexicanas (“One Hundred Years of the Mexican Novel”).

Laura Esquivel: Born in Mexico City, Esquivel is the author of the popular book, Like Water for Chocolate (1990), which was released in film in 1992. In 2006 her novel, Malinche was published, dealing with the historical figure who was interpreter and mistress to Hernan Cortes during the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

Carlos Pellicer (1897 – 1977): Born in Villahermosa, Tabasco,  Pellicer, who is classed as one of the first Mexican modernists, portrayed nature vividly in his written poetic works; he was highly instrumental in the promotion of the arts during his day, being active in the establishment of a number of museums and Mexico City and elsewhere.

Juan Rulfo (1917 – 1986): One of Mexico’s most distinguished authors although his books number only two: a compendium of 17 short stories called El Llano en Llamas (“The Burning Plain”) and a short, surrealistic novel set in the town of Comala, titled Pedro Páramo. He was awarded the National Prize for Letters in 1970, and the Prince of Asturias Award for achievement in Literature in 1983.

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Originally posted 2009-07-31 15:58:39.