Biografía de César Vallejo | Escritores Peruanos

Biography of César Vallejo: The Universal Poet

Early Life and Education

• César Vallejo was born on March 16, 1892, in Santiago de Chuco, La Libertad, Peru. He is recognized as one of the greatest innovators in 20th-century poetry.

• His parents were Francisco de Paula Vallejo and María de los Santos Mendoza. Initially trained for priesthood due to family influence, this background later reflected in his early biblical-themed poetry.

• Completed primary education at school No. 271 in Santiago de Chuco before moving to Huamachuco for secondary studies at Colegio Nacional San Nicolás in 1905.

• Enrolled at the National University of Trujillo's Faculty of Letters in 1910 but left after a few months due to financial issues, returning home to assist his father with administrative tasks.

Influences and Early Career

• His experiences with Quiruvilca miners inspired his novel "Tungsteno" (1931), which critiques the exploitation by mining companies.

• In Lima, he briefly studied medicine at the National University of San Marcos but abandoned it due to disappointment and economic struggles.

• Worked as a tutor for Domingo Sotil's children and later as a cashier's assistant at a sugar plantation where he witnessed indigenous exploitation firsthand.

Academic Pursuits and Literary Beginnings

• Returned to Trujillo in 1913 to resume studies while working as a teacher; graduated with a bachelor's degree in Literature on September 22, 1915.

• Became part of Trujillo’s intellectual scene alongside notable figures like Antenor Orrego and Andrés Spelucin; began publishing poems locally that gained attention from Lima newspapers.

• Experienced personal loss when his muse María Rosa Sandoval passed away from tuberculosis; this event influenced his first book "The Black Heralds."

Personal Struggles and Relationships

• Vallejo faced deep depression following another romantic disappointment with Zoila Rosa Cuadra, leading him to attempt suicide.

• Encouraged by friends, he moved to Lima for doctoral studies where he mingled with prominent intellectual circles including José Carlos Mariátegui.

Professional Development and Major Works

• Worked at Barrós school but lost his job due to an inappropriate relationship; Otilia would later appear in poems from "Trilce."

• Published "Los Heraldos Negros" (1919), exploring themes such as existentialism, death, pain, guilt, and religion through personal lenses.

• Imprisoned unjustly for three months in 1920 over accusations related to local unrest; during imprisonment won second prize for “Fabla de gesta.”

César Vallejo: A Journey Through His Life and Works

Early Literary Contributions and Innovations

• Vallejo's work liberated itself from traditional metrics and aesthetics of rhyme, utilizing both old and newly created words, marking a unique aesthetic in literature. This positioned him as a precursor to linguistic experimentation.

• In March 1923, he published Escalas melografiadas, a collection of avant-garde stories, alongside Fabla Salvaje, a psychological short novel close to the fantastic genre. He was briefly reinstated as a teacher at Guadalupe National College that year.

• After being dismissed from his teaching position, Vallejo left for Europe on June 17, 1923, with minimal funds owed by the Ministry of Education. He settled in Paris where he engaged in journalism for Peruvian and Spanish publications.

• Despite facing financial hardships that led him to sleep outdoors, Vallejo connected with prominent writers like Juan Larrea, Vicente Huidobro, Pablo Neruda, and Tristan Tzara during his time in Paris.

Political Engagement and Literary Development

• In 1926, he met Henriette Maisse and co-founded the magazine Favorables Paris Poema along with La Semana Parisién. He also contributed to the Lima magazine Varieties.

• By 1927, Vallejo deepened his understanding of Marxism while collaborating distantly with José Carlos Mariátegui on El Amauta. That year marked his first visit to Russia where he experienced the socialist movement firsthand.

• Upon returning to France after visiting Russia, he established the Parisian cell of the Socialist Party founded by Mariátegui. In 1928, he completed his historical novel Towards the Kingdom of the Sciris, which would be published posthumously.

Challenges and Continued Creativity

• Vallejo worked as an official correspondent for El Comercio while contributing to magazines like Variety and World Cup. However, by 1930 many magazines closed due to economic crises leading him back into literary pursuits.

• After traveling to Madrid for the re-publication of his poetry collection Trilce, he faced expulsion from France upon return due to accusations of communist propaganda. He temporarily resided in Spain thereafter.

• In Spain during 1931, he witnessed significant political changes including the fall of Bourbon monarchy and establishment of Second Spanish Republic while interacting with notable writers such as Miguel de Unamuno and Federico García Lorca.

Prolific Output Amidst Adversity

• Influenced by Marxist ideas and memories from Quiruvilca miners' abuses, Vallejo published his proletarian novel "El Tungsteno" along with essays chronicling Russia in 1931; these works gained popularity quickly but faced censorship issues later on.

• During an October trip to Russia—the last one—he produced plays like "Lock-out" and "Between Two Shores Runs The River," alongside sequels related to previous works; however all were banned due to their revolutionary content.

• Returning to Paris in 1934 after restrictions were lifted did not alleviate challenges; continued production focused on anti-imperialist themes remained unpublished due to their controversial nature exacerbating financial struggles.

Final Years: Health Decline & Legacy

• In 1935 Vallejo wrote several narrative sketches that would be published posthumously despite ongoing health issues stemming from exhaustion linked back to childhood malaria experiences which resurfaced around this time.

• During the Spanish Civil War (1936), he collaborated closely with Pablo Neruda founding committees supporting anti-fascist efforts while writing poignant pieces including "Human Poems" before succumbing again under physical strain later that year.

• Between September-November 1937 marked intense creative output culminating in lyrical compositions such as "Spain Separate This Cup From Me" alongside theatrical drama “La piedra cansada”.

Death & Posthumous Recognition

• By March 1938 while working as a professor in Paris suffering severe health decline led him into crisis ultimately resulting in death on April 15th—a day predicted within his poem “Black Stone on White Stone.”

The Evolution of Literary Appreciation

Understanding the Impact of Time on Literature

• The appreciation for certain literary styles and talents often grows over time, as humanity begins to recognize their unique lyrical qualities and narrative depth.

• The speaker reflects on a particular style that is described as "extraordinary," yet also "sad" and "misunderstood," indicating a complex relationship between the artist's intent and public perception.

Insights from the Author's Own Words

• The author expresses frustration with his creative process, stating, "I want to write, but foam comes out of me," highlighting the struggle between intention and execution in artistic expression.

• He uses metaphors such as feeling like a puma or being stuck on onions to convey feelings of entrapment and longing for growth or graduation in his writing journey.

Themes of Existence and Emotion

• The text delves into existential themes, suggesting that every spoken word has its limitations ("no spoken cough... without development"), reflecting on the nature of communication and understanding.