Antonio Ávila Jiménez is the author of only three books of poems, but his name is often mentioned among the most important Bolivian poets of the first half of the twentieth century. The quality of his work has never been questioned, and yet there is no critical consensus on either how to categorize his poetry or where to place it within the history of Bolivian literature. Many experts underline the intimate tone of his poetry and the brevity of his compositions, while those who knew him personally mention his sensitive and captivating personality, his vast culture, and his elegant demeanor. He titled his three books of poems cronos (chronos, 1939), signo (sign, 1942), and las almas (the souls, 1950). The international, the national, and the personal are the three main sources of inspiration for the poet. The music and the landscape of Europe, where he lived for many...