🇵🇪 AUTORES PERUANOS | CIRO ALEGRÍA BAZÁN | Biografía y Obras

Summary

Ciro Alegría Basán, born in 1909, was a prominent Peruvian writer, journalist, and activist. His early life was influenced by his father’s literary interests and his experiences in various regions of Peru. He pursued a career in writing, initially gaining attention for his poems and short stories. He was involved in political movements, which led to multiple imprisonments and exiles. His most famous works, such as 'The Serpent of Gold,' 'The Hungry Dogs,' and 'The World is Wide and Foreign,' explored the struggles of indigenous communities in Peru. Alegría is considered one of the leading figures of Peruvian indigenism and Latin American literature.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ciro Alegría Basán was born on November 4, 1909, in Sartí Bamba, La Libertad, Peru, and was heavily influenced by his father, José Alegría Lych, and his mother, María Herminia Basán.
• 😀 Alegría's early education took place in Trujillo, where he attended the San Juan School and befriended future poet César Vallejo.
• 😀 In 1920, Alegría contracted malaria and returned to the Andes, where he continued his studies in Cajamarca and gained insight into native culture and agriculture.
• 😀 After his mother's death in 1926, Alegría tried to publish his work in Lima but initially faced failure and hardship before returning to Trujillo and continuing his education.
• 😀 Alegría's career in journalism began when he became director of a school newspaper and was later recruited by Antenor Orrego to write for the *Diario del Norte* in Trujillo.
• 😀 In 1931, Alegría joined the Aprista Party and became an active opponent of the military government of Sánchez Cerro, leading to his imprisonment and subsequent escape to the mountains.
• 😀 After his release in 1933, Alegría went into exile in Chile, where he wrote his successful first novel *La serpiente de oro*, which won a literary contest in 1934.
• 😀 Alegría faced serious health issues, including a stroke in 1937, but recovered to complete and publish his influential novels *Los perros hambrientos* (1939) and *El mundo es ancho y ajeno* (1940).
• 😀 *El mundo es ancho y ajeno* earned Alegría international recognition, including an invitation to New York, though he could not attend due to the Pearl Harbor attack.
• 😀 Throughout his life, Alegría remained committed to writing about indigenous struggles, social injustice, and the resilience of the human spirit, especially within the context of Peruvian rural communities.

Q & A

What was the primary influence on Ciro Alegría's early life?

Ciro Alegría was greatly influenced by his father, José Alegría Lych, a reader of the Peruvian essayist Manuel González Prada. His mother, María Herminia Basán, also played a crucial role in nurturing his literary interests.

Which famous poet did Ciro Alegría meet during his time at the Colegio San Juan?

While studying at the Colegio San Juan in Trujillo, Ciro Alegría met César Vallejo, a renowned Peruvian poet.

What happened during Ciro Alegría's political involvement with the Aprista Party?

Ciro Alegría joined the Aprista Party and opposed the military government of Sánchez Cerro. This led to his imprisonment, and he later escaped, only to be recaptured and sent to prison again.

How did Ciro Alegría's health affect his writing career?

Ciro Alegría's health was significantly affected by tuberculosis, and he suffered an embolism, leading to temporary paralysis. Despite this setback, he continued to write while recovering.

Which novel helped Ciro Alegría gain recognition in Chile?

Ciro Alegría gained recognition in Chile with his novel *La serpiente de oro* (The Golden Serpent), which won a literary contest and became his first successful work.

What was Ciro Alegría's most significant work in terms of literary acclaim?

Ciro Alegría's most significant work is *El mundo es ancho y ajeno* (The World is Wide and Foreign), which won the Latin American Novel Prize in 1941 and became a classic of Peruvian and Latin American literature.

How did Ciro Alegría contribute to the literary world after being exiled in the U.S.?

After his exile in the U.S., Ciro Alegría worked for *Selecciones del Reader's Digest* and later contributed to various publications in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other parts of Latin America.

What event marked the end of Ciro Alegría's life?

Ciro Alegría died unexpectedly on February 17, 1967, from a heart attack. He was posthumously honored with a ministerial position and condecorated with the highest level of *Las Palmas Magisteriales*.

What is the central theme of Ciro Alegría's novel *Los perros hambrientos*?

In *Los perros hambrientos* (The Hungry Dogs), Ciro Alegría explores themes of resistance and solidarity, focusing on the struggles of peasants in the northern Peruvian Andes during a prolonged drought.

How did Ciro Alegría's work contribute to the Peruvian indigenist movement?

Ciro Alegría, alongside José María Arguedas, was a leading figure in the Peruvian indigenist movement, using his literary works to highlight the issues faced by indigenous communities, especially their struggles with land rights and social inequality.