Latin-American Literature

Prior to Vargas Llosa's arrival on the literary scene, twentieth-century Peruvian literature was dominated by the works of José Carlos Mariátegui, Cesár Vallejo, and José Maria Arguedas. Mariátegui's work reflects his belief that Peru's people provide the key to understanding the country's past and future. Vallejo's poetry, prose, and drama gained special recognition after he took his life in 1938. His work reflects his belief in the importance of solidarity among human beings. Arguedas drew on the works of Mariátegui and Vallejo as he wrote about rural and urban life in Peru.

In the 1960s, there was a "boom" in Latin-American literature. During this period, the work of prominent Latin-American writers received international attention and acclaim. As a result, related areas also expanded, such as translation, literary criticism, and North American graduate programs related to Spanish-language studies...