This is the first biography of Latin America's most important poet. the
Peruvian César Vallejo. It traces the important events of his life and
evaluates his poetry, fiction, theatre, political essays and journalism.
This is the first biography of Latin America's most important poet, the
Peruvian César Vallejo, who was born in an Andean village, Santiago de
Chuco, on 16 March 1892 and died in Paris on 15 April 1938. It traces
the important events of his life - becoming a poet in Peru, falling in
love with Mirtho in Trujillo, writing Trilce which would transform for
ever the avant-garde in the Spanish-speaking world, fleeing to Paris in
the summer of 1923 afterbeing accused of burning down Carlos Santa
María's house in Santiago de Chuco, falling in love with Georgette
Philippart and then with communism, writing his Poemas humanos (Human
Poems) and then, shortly before hisdeath, writing his moving poems
inspired by the Spanish Civil War, España, aparta de mí este cáliz
(Spain, Take this Chalice from Me). This book also provides an objective
evaluation of Vallejo's poetry, fiction, theatre, political essays and
journalism.
Stephen M. Hart is Professor of Latin American Film, Literature and
Culture, School of European Languages, Culture and Society, University
College London.