Rogelio Sinán has been important to Panamanian literature not only as an innovative writer but as a teacher and mentor to numerous writers during his many decades as the undisputed leader of the country's literary circles. Though best known for his short stories, his role as an innovator has been in the areas of poetry and the novel. He introduced avant-garde techniques in both genres and became known outside Panama for his use of Panamanian landscape and themes in literary creations ranging from surrealistic, cubist works in the 1930s to his use of magic realism in his epic novel La isla mágica (The Magic Island, 1977).

Sinán, whose real name is Bernardo Domínguez Alba, was born on 25 April 1904 on the island of Taboga, located off the coast of Panama City. When he was five his family moved to Panama City, but...