Hernando Téllez (22 March 1908 – 1966) was a Colombian journalist and writer. Born and educated in

Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city of Colombia, and one of the larges ...

, Téllez entered very early the world of journalism, with which he is primarily identified, having been on the staff of some of Colombia's most popular newspapers and magazines. It was not until 1950 with the publication of his

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

collection ''Cenizas para el viento'' (''Ashes for the Wind''), that his name became more widely known. His tragicomic tales evidence his keen and extremely sensitive observations of contemporary life and, more particularly, the anguishing reality of his native country.

Career

During Téllez's lifetime, Colombia suffered through several civil wars and military dictatorships, collectively called ''

La Violencia ''La Violencia'' (, The Violence) was a ten-year civil war in Colombia from 1948 to 1958, between the Colombian Conservative Party and the Colombian Liberal Party, fought mainly in the countryside. ''La Violencia'' is considered to have begu ...

'' ("The Violence"). Téllez was also a student of history and was aware of the three rebellions of the 19th century which caused the former nation of

Gran Colombia Gran Colombia (, "Great Colombia"), or Greater Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia (Spanish: ''República de Colombia''), was a state that encompassed much of northern South America and part of southern Central America from 1819 to 18 ...

to be divided into the separate countries of Colombia,

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

and

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

. Téllez served in the

Congress of Colombia The Congress of the Republic of Colombia ( es, Congreso de la República de Colombia) is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature. The Congress of Colombia consists of the 108-seat Senate, and the 188-seat Chamber of Re ...

. Possibly the most famous work by Téllez is his short story "Espuma y nada más" ("Lather and Nothing Else", or "Just Lather, That's All"). The story is widely read by American high school students learning

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

, and depicts the inner conflict of a barber and secret rebel spy who is shaving the captain of a military unit which has tracked and executed members of a local resistance organization. The barber vacillates between thoughts of slitting the captain's throat with his razor and giving him the expert shave for which he is known. In the end the barber decides he does not want to be stained in blood, but only in soap lather, or "espuma y nada más". As the captain leaves, he reveals that he heard that the barber would kill him and that his visit was to see if this was true.

Stories

*"Espuma y nada más" ("Lather and Nothing Else" or "Just Lather, That's All") *''Ashes for the Wind and Other Stories''

References

1908 births 1966 deaths {{Colombia-bio-stub

Career

Stories

See also

References