Central America
Costa Rica
Julieta Dobles Yzaguirre, a celebrated Costa Rican poet, writer, and educator born on 11 March 1943 in San José, has received numerous accolades, including five Aquileo J. Echeverría National Prizes and the Magón National Prize for Culture in 2013. With a background in philology and linguistics from the University of Costa Rica and a master’s degree in Hispanic philology from Stony Brook University, she became a key figure in the Círculo de Poetas. She co-signed the 1977 Transcendentalist Manifesto and published notable works like Reloj de siempre (1965), El peso vivo (1968), and Hojas furtivas (2007). A professor at the University of Costa Rica, she teaches literature and language, conducts workshops, and has been a member of the Academia Costarricense de la Lengua since 2006.
Ana Istarú, born on February 3, 1960, in San José, Costa Rica, is a poet, actress, and screenwriter. She is best known for her feminist poetry and co-wrote the screenplay for the movie "Caribe" (2004). Istarú's work often explores themes of gender, identity, and social issues. She has received several awards for her contributions to literature and the arts, making her a prominent figure in Costa Rican culture.
El Salvador
Claudia Lars, born Margarita del Carmen Brannon Vega on December 20, 1899, in Armenia, El Salvador, was a celebrated Salvadoran poet. Educated at home and later at Colegio La Asunción de Santa Ana, she began her literary journey at a young age. Her first book, "Stars in the Well," was published in 1934, and she gained recognition for her works such as "Romances of North and South" and "City under my Voice." Lars also served as a cultural attaché to the Embassy of El Salvador in Guatemala. Her notable works include "Estrellas en el Pozo," "Cancion Redonda," and "Tierra de Infancia." She passed away in San Salvador in 1974. The books of Claudia Lars in our collections can be seen here.
Guatemala
María Alaíde Foppa Falla (3 December 1914 – c. 1980?) was a Guatemalan poet, writer, feminist, art critic, teacher and translator. Born in Barcelona, Spain, she held Guatemalan citizenship and lived in exile in Mexico. She worked as a professor in both Guatemala and Mexico. Much of her poetry was published in Mexico, and she co-founded one of the first feminist publications, Fem, in the country. After her husband's death, she made a trip to Guatemala to see her mother and renew her passport. She was detained and disappeared in Guatemala City on 19 December 1980, presumed to be murdered. Some sources note the date of her disappearance as 9 December 1980 (source: wiki)
Denise Phé-Funchal, born in Guatemala in 1977, is a writer, editor, and professor. She authored novels like "Las Flores" (2007), "Ana sonríe" (2015), and "La habitación de la memoria" (2015). Her works include poetry, short stories, and plays, published across various countries. As a sociologist, she has focused on supporting female victims of sexual violence and exploring themes of internal conflict and historical memory.
Ana Maria Rodas, a renowned Guatemalan journalist and poet born in 1937, has significantly contributed to Central American literature, receiving the Guatemala National Prize in Literature in 2000 and being named an Illustrious Person by the San Carlos University of Guatemala in 2017.
Honduras
Clementina Suárez (1902–1991) was a pioneering Honduran poet who broke social norms and became the first woman in Honduras to publish a poetry book. Born in Juticalpa, she left school after fifth grade and pursued a literary career despite many hardships. Known for her bold and independent behavior, she shocked traditional society. She published her first poems in Tegucigalpa, founded the Gallery of Central American Art, and received a national literary award in 1970. She passed away in Tegucigalpa in 1991.
Nicaragua
Gioconda Belli, born in Managua, Nicaragua, attended boarding school in Spain and studied advertising and journalism in Philadelphia. She began her career at Pepsi-Cola and joined the Sandinista movement in 1970, leading to her exile in Mexico in 1975. Belli returned to Nicaragua in 1979 and held various roles within the Sandinista government before becoming a critic of the Ortega regime. She published her first poems in 1970 and gained recognition with her novel "La Mujer Habitada" in 1988. Her other notable works include "El país bajo mi piel" and "El infinito en la palma de la mano." Belli has received numerous awards and now lives in exile in Madrid. UC Berkeley's collection of her books can be searched here.
Daisy Zamora, born in 1950 in Managua, Nicaragua, is a renowned poet and political activist. Her notable works include "The Violent Foam" and "Riverbed of Memory," which explore themes of daily life, human rights, and revolution.
Panama
Nicolle Garay (1873-1928) was a Panamanian poet, pianist, violinist, educator, and feminist. Born Nicolasa de las Mercedes Garay in Panama, she was part of the first generation of poets in the country. She was the daughter of Colombian painter Epifanio Garay and the sister of musician Narciso Garay. Nicolle received a private education and later moved to Bogotá and France to further study. She was involved in private and public education in Panama and was the director of the National Conservatory of Music and Declamation from 1921 to 1925. Garay was also an honorary president of the National Red Cross of Panama and participated in the feminist movement led by Esther Neira de Calvo. Her poetry often reflected romantic themes and concerns about the future of Panama. Her poetry page is here
Gloria Guardia (1940-2019) was a Panamanian novelist, essayist, and journalist. She was a Panamanian Academy of Letters member and an Associate Fellow at the Spanish Royal Academy, the Colombian Academy of Letters, and the Nicaraguan Academy of Letters. Her notable works include "Tiniebla blanca" (1961), "Despertar sin raíces" (1966), and "Libertad en llamas" (2000). Guardia received several awards, including the Ricardo Miró National and Central American Novel Prizes. See more information here.
