Colombian literature, as an expression of the culture of Colombia, is heterogeneous due to the coexistence of Spanish, African and Native American heritages in an extremely diverse geography. Five distinct historical and cultural traditions can be identified, with their own socioeconomic history: the Caribbean coast, Greater Antioquia, the Cundinamarca-Boyacá Highlands, Greater Tolima and the Western Valley. Colombia produced one of the richest literatures of Latin America, as much for its abundance as for its variety and innovation during the 19th and 20th centuries. Colombian intellectuals who forged the literature of this period also contributed decisively to the consolidation of Latin American literature.
Conquest and early colonial period (1499-1810)
Under the Spanish Empire, major literary topics included conquest narratives, chronicles, religious devotion, and love themes. Some of the best-known authors of this period are:
Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada - First chronicler as he kept diaries of his own conquests, main conquistador of large parts of Colombia, may have been the author of Epítome de la conquista del Nuevo Reino de Granada, his diaries were published in 1576
Juan de Castellanos - Wrote the longest poem ever in the Spanish language, Elegías de varones ilustres de Indias
Pedro Simón - Friar who wrote Noticias historiales de las conquistas de Tierra Firme en las Indias occidentales about the Spanish conquest in 1626
Hernando Domínguez Camargo - Jesuit priest and writer. His work was influenced by the Spanish poet Luis de Góngora, in a cultural trend known as the Indias Baroque. His most recognized works are "Epic Poem to St Ignacio of Loyola" and "Bouquet of poetic flowers"
Emancipation and national consolidation (1780-1830)
During the process of independence, Colombian literature was strongly influenced by the political motivations of the moment. The main literary movements were close to Romanticism. During the nineteenth century, political writing was led by Simón Bolívar. Local journalism was initiated by Antonio Nariño. The Colombian government established the first Academy of Spanish language in the American continent, in 1871. Other relevant authors were:
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the main topic in Colombian literature was the colourful depiction of peasant life, tied to strong criticism of society and government. This type of literature was called costumbrista literature. Some of the authors of this period are:
Modernismo and modernism are reactions against the previous literature of Romanticism. Modernism's main topics are ugliness and mystery. The main modern writers are:
The industrialization process in Latin America during the twentieth century generated new literary movements such as the poetic movement named “Piedra y cielo”. Its main authors are:
Eduardo Carranza
Jorge Gaitán Durán
Jorge Rojas
Arturo Camacho Ramírez
Augusto Pinilla
Nothing-ism (Nadaísmo)
The violent events in Colombia during the 1940s and 1950s, such as La Violencia and the military government of Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, as well as a considerable urban expansion, influenced in the formation of the Nadaísta movement, which was the Colombian expression of numerous avant-garde-like movements in the poetry of the Americas during the 1950s and 60s. :es:Nadaísmo|Nadaísmo included elements of existentialism and nihilism, a dynamic incorporation of city life, and a generally irreverent, iconoclastic flavor. Authors who were part of this movement include:
In recent decades, in Colombia there has been a significant number of poets of importance, who deal with urban issues and anti-poetry. Among them are Antonieta Villamil, Andrea Cote, Lucia Estrada, Felipe García Quintero, whose poetry has been recognized internationally.
Some of the characters most recognized in Colombian children's literature and the popular imaginary are the stock characters created by Rafael Pombo, which are often found in nursery rhymes, familiar folk tales and in the textbooks for elementary school. Other important children literature authors are:
Jairo Anibal Niño: with his works "La alegria de querer", "Razzgo, Indo y Zas", "Catalino Bocachica" among others
Euclides Jaramillo: with the "Tales of Uncle rabbit"
From the 1980s, young adult fiction authors Gloria Cecilia Díaz, Irene Vasco, Evelio José Rosero, Yolanda Reyes and Pilar Lozano introduced new subjects for the genre such as conflict, kidnapping, death and fear.
Recent picture book voices include the work of Ivar da Coll, Claudia Rueda, Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng
