SOURCE: Hills, Elijah Clarence. Introduction to The Odes of Bello, Olmedo, and Heredia, pp. 3-9. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1920.

In the following excerpt, Hills briefly outlines Bello's life and major works, noting their general reception by critics.

The three pre-eminent classic poets of Spanish America are Bello of Venezuela, Olmedo of Ecuador, and the Cuban Heredia.

Of these, Don Andrés Bello (1781-1865) was the most consummate master of poetic diction, although he lacked the brilliancy of Olmedo and the spontaneity of Heredia.

Born in Caracas and educated in the schools of his native city, Bello was sent to England in the year 1810 to further the cause of the revolution, and he remained in that country till 1829, when he was called to Chile to take service in the Department of Foreign Affairs. His life may, therefore, be divided into three distinct periods. In Caracas he studied...