This is a list of Peruvian literary figures, including

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...

children's writer Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader. Children's ...

essayist An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have been sub-classified as formal a ...

s, and

scholar A scholar is a person who pursues academic and intellectual activities, particularly academics who apply their intellectualism into expertise in an area of study. A scholar can also be an academic, who works as a professor, teacher, or researche ...

s. *

Martín Adán Martín Adán (Lima, October 27, 1908 - January 29, 1985), pseudonym of Rafael de la Fuente Benavides, was a Peruvian poet whose body of work is notable for its hermeticism and metaphysical depth. From a very young age Adán demonstrated great li ...

(1908–1985), poet *

Ciro Alegría Ciro Alegría Bazán (November 4, 1909 – February 17, 1967) was a Peruvian journalist, politician, and novelist. Biography Born in Huamachuco District, he exposed the problems of the Native Peruvians while learning about their way of life. ...

(1909–1967),

indigenist Indigenism can refer to several different ideologies that seek to promote the interests of indigenous peoples. The term is used differently by various scholars and activists, and can be used purely descriptively or carry political connotations. D ...

novelist *

Marie Arana Marie Arana (born Lima, Peru) is an author, editor, journalist, critic, and the inaugural Literary Director of the Library of Congress. Biography Marie Arana was born in Peru, the daughter of Jorge Enrique Arana Cisneros, a Peruvian-born civil ...

(born 1949), Peruvian-American novelist, biographer, journalist *

José María Arguedas José María Arguedas Altamirano (18 January 1911 – 2 December 1969) was a Peruvian novelist, poet, and anthropologist. Arguedas was an author of Spanish descent, fluent in the Native Quechua language, gained by living in two Quechua househo ...

(1911–1969),

novelist and poet *

Federico Barreto Federico Barreto (1862 in Tacna - 1929 in Marseille, France) was a Peruvian poet and writer best known for his poetry collection ''El cantor del cautiverio''. Early life Barreto's father was a colonel in the Peruvian Army. Barreto himself was ...

(1862–1929), poet *

Michael Bentine Michael Bentine, (born Michael James Bentin; 26 January 1922General Register Office for England and Wales – Birth Register for the March Quarter of 1922, Watford Registration District, Reference 3a 1478, listed as "Michael J. Bentin", mother ...

(1922–1996), Anglo-Peruvian comedian *

Alfredo Bryce Echenique Alfredo Bryce Echenique (born February 19, 1939) is a Peruvian writer born in Lima. He has written numerous books and short stories. Early days Bryce was born to a Peruvian family of upper class, related to the Scottish-Peruvian businessman John ...

(born 1939), novelist * Guillermo Carnero Hoke (1917–1985), writer and journalist *

Carlos Castaneda Carlos Castañeda (December 25, 1925 – April 27, 1998) was an American writer. Starting with '' The Teachings of Don Juan'' in 1968, Castaneda wrote a series of books that purport to describe training in shamanism that he received under the ...

(1925–1998), literary anthropologist *

Gamaliel Churata Arturo Peralta Miranda (born June 10, 1897; died Lima, November 9, 1969) was a Peruvian writer, he had an active literary and political life in his country, mostly in his native city: Puno. Some say that at his time, he was one of the four major ...

(1897–1957), socialist essayist and journalist * José María Eguren (1874–1942), poet *

Jorge Eduardo Eielson Jorge Eduardo Eielson (April 13, 1924 – March 8, 2006) was a Peruvian artist and writer. As an artist he is known for his quipus, a reinterpretation of an ancient Andean device, they are considered precursors of conceptual art. Life and ...

(1924–2006), poet *

Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (12 April 1539 – 23 April 1616), born Gómez Suárez de Figueroa and known as El Inca, was a chronicler and writer born in the Viceroyalty of Peru. Sailing to Spain at 21, he was educated informally there, where he l ...

(c. 1539–1616), the first

mestizo (; ; fem. ) is a term used for racial classification to refer to a person of mixed Ethnic groups in Europe, European and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous American ancestry. In certain regions such as Latin America, it may also r ...

chronicler *

Manuel González Prada Jose Manuel de los Reyes González de Prada y Ulloa (Lima, January 5, 1844 – Lima, July 22, 1918) was a Peruvian politician and anarchist, literary critic and director of the National Library of Peru. He is well remembered as a social criti ...

(1844–1918), modernista poet *

Eduardo González Viaña Eduardo González Viaña (born November 13, 1941, in Chepén, La Libertad, Peru) is a writer and professor of Spanish at Western Oregon University. González Viaña earned a doctorate in Spanish language literature from the National University o ...

(born 1941), short story writer and novelist *

Javier Heraud Javier Heraud Pérez (1942–1963) was a Peruvian poet and member of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN). In his early life he studied at Markham College and later he continued his studies at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. In Jan ...

(1942–1963), poet and ''guerrillero'' *

Rodolfo Hinostroza Rodolfo Hinostroza (October 27, 1941 – November 1, 2016) was a Peruvian poet, writer, journalist, food critic and astrologer. He was born in Lima. Early life In 1962 he left Peru with a scholarship to study Philosophy and English Literature at ...

(born 1941), influential poet, writer, novelist and essayist *

Luis Jochamowitz Luis Jochamowitz (born Lima, Perú, 1953) is a Peruvian journalist and writer. Jochamowitz has worked for the Peruvian magazines '' Variedades'' and '' Caretas''. In 1993, while Alberto Fujimori was president of Peru, he published ''Ciudadano F ...

(born 1953), journalist and biographer *

José Carlos Mariátegui José Carlos Mariátegui La Chira (June 14, 1894 - April 16, 1930) was a Peruvian writer, journalist, politician and Marxist–Leninist philosopher. A prolific author despite his early death, El Amauta (from Quechua: hamawt'a, "teacher", a nam ...

(1894–1930), socialist essayist and journalist *

Jose Luis Mejia Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. *Jose ben Abin *Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galilean ...

(born 1969), poet, novelist *

Gloria Macher Gloria Macher is a Peruvian-Canadian writer living in Montreal. Her work explores social, political, ecological and existential themes. She is considered a main proponent of the contemporary humanistic literary scene. Early life and education Ma ...

Peruvian Canadian writer *

María Emma Mannarelli María Emma Mannarelli Cavagnari (born October 11, 1954) is a Peruvian feminist writer, historian, and professor. She is the founder and coordinator of the Gender Studies Program at the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM), where she also se ...

(born 1954), feminist writer, historian, professor *

Clorinda Matto de Turner Clorinda Matto de Turner (11 November 1852 in Cusco – 25 October 1909) was a Peruvian writer who lived during the early years of Latin American independence. Her own independence inspired women throughout the region as her writings sparked ...

(1853–1909), novelist * Scarlett O'Phelan Godoy (born 1951), historian *

Angélica Palma Angélica Palma y Román (Lima, 1878 – Rosario, 1935) was a writer, journalist and biographer from Peru. Life Angélica Palma was the daughter of famous Peruvian author and scholar Ricardo Palma and Cristina Román Olivier. Her brother Cle ...

(1878–1935), writer, journalist and biographer * Clemente Palma (1872–1946), writer of fantastic and horror fiction *

Ricardo Palma Manuel Ricardo Palma Soriano (February 7, 1833 – October 6, 1919) was a Peruvian author, scholar, librarian and politician. His magnum opus is the ''Tradiciones peruanas''. Biography According to the official account, Manuel Ricardo Pal ...

(1833–1919), writer *

Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala (ca. 1535Fane, 165 – after 1616), also known as Huamán Poma or Wamán Poma, was a Quechua nobleman known for chronicling and denouncing the ill treatment of the natives of the Andes by the Spanish after their co ...

, indigenous chronicler *

Santiago Roncagliolo Santiago Rafael Roncagliolo Lohmann (born March 29, 1975) is a Peruvian writer, screenwriter, translator, and journalist. He has written five novels about fear. He is also author of a trilogy of non-fiction books on Latin America during the twent ...

(born 1975), writer, scriptwriter, translator and journalist *

Julio Ramón Ribeyro Julio Ramón Ribeyro Zúñiga (August 31, 1929 – December 4, 1994) was a Peruvian writer best known for his short stories. He was also successful in other genres: novel, essay, theater, diary and aphorism. In the year of his death, he was awar ...

(1929–1994), short story writer *

Isabel Sabogal Isabel María Sabogal Dunin-Borkowski (Lima, October 14, 1958) is a Polish-Peruvian bilingual novelist, poet, translator of Polish literature into Spanish and Astrology, astrologer. Biography Her parents were José Rodolfo Sabogal Wiesse (Peruv ...

(born 1958), novelist, poet and translator * Sebastián Salazar Bondy (1924–1964), essayist and poet *

Claudia Salazar Jiménez Claudia Salazar Jiménez (born 1976) is a Peruvian writer, editor, academic and a cultural manager. Her first novel ''Blood of the Dawn'', set in Peru during the times of internal unrest in the 1980s, was awarded Premio Las Américas. Early li ...

(born 1976) writer, editor and academic *

José Santos Chocano José Santos Chocano Gastañodi (May 14, 1875 – December 13, 1934), more commonly known by his pseudonym "El Cantor de América" (), was a Peruvian poet, writer and diplomat, whose work was widely praised across Europe and Latin America. Conside ...

(1875–1934), poet *

Manuel Scorza Manuel Scorza (September 9, 1928November 27, 1983) was an important Peruvian novelist, poet, and political activist, exiled under the regime of Manuel Odría. He was born in Lima. Life and career Scorza was a member of a student group affiliated ...

(1928–1983), novelist and poet * Carlos Thorne Boas (born 1923), novelist, writer and lawyer * Álvaro Torres-Calderón (born 1975), poet *

Abraham Valdelomar Pedro Abraham Valdelomar Pinto (April 27, 1888 - November 3, 1919) was a Peruvian narrator, poet, journalist, essayist and dramatist; he is considered the founder of the avant-garde in Peru, although more for his dandy-like public poses and his f ...

(1888–1919) *

Blanca Varela Blanca Leonor Varela Gonzáles (10 August 1926 – 12 March 2009) was a Peruvian poet. Daughter of writer, poet, singer and journalist Serafina Quinteras. Biography Blanca Varela was born in Lima. Her mother was a composer who authored man ...

(1926–2009), poet *

Mario Vargas Llosa Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa, 1st Marquess of Vargas Llosa (born 28 March 1936), more commonly known as Mario Vargas Llosa (, ), is a Peruvian novelist, journalist, essayist and former politician, who also holds Spanish citizenship. Vargas Ll ...

(born 1936), novelist of the

Latin American Boom The Latin American Boom ( es, Boom latinoamericano) was a literary movement of the 1960s and 1970s when the work of a group of relatively young Latin American novelists became widely circulated in Europe and throughout the world. The Boom is mos ...

Virginia Vargas Virginia "Gina" Vargas Valente (born 23 July 1945) is a Peruvian sociologist and a well-known figure in the women's movement in her country. Biography Virginia Vargas was born on 23 July 1945 in Lima, Peru, the second of four children. Follow ...

(born 1945), sociologist * Cesar Vallejo (1892–1938), influential poet, writer, journalist *

José Watanabe José Watanabe (1946 2007) was a Peruvian poet who won a number of literary awards. Watanabe was born in Laredo, a large sugar cane farm in northern Peru. His father was a Japanese immigrant, and his mother was a Peruvian of Andean origin. In ...

(1946–2007), poet *

Carlos Yushimito Carlos Yushimito del Valle (born 1977 in Lima, Peru) is a Peruvian writer of Japanese descent. Biography Carlos Yushimito del Valle studied Latin American Literature at the National University of San Marcos where he graduated in 2002. Two years ...

(born 1977), writer *

Gunter Silva Passuni Gunter Silva (born 1977) is a Peruvian writer. Biography Gunter Silva Passuni was born in 1977 in La Merced, Junín, La Merced, Peru. He studied Law at the Catholic University of Santa María in Arequipa. He also holds an MA in Literature and Cr ...

(born 1977), writer * Renato Cisneros (born 1976) *

Daniel Alarcón Daniel Alarcón (born March 5, 1977 in Lima, Peru) is a Peruvian-American novelist, journalist and radio producer. He is co-founder, host and executive producer of '' Radio Ambulante'', an award-winning Spanish language podcast distributed by NP ...

(born 1977), novelist * Mario Bellatin (born 1960) *

(born 1975), novelist *

(1909-1967) *

Jaime Bayly Jaime Bayly Letts (born February 19, 1965) is a Peruvian writer, journalist and television personality. He has won an Emmy Award and two of his books have been adapted into international movies. Early life Bayly was born to an upper class Pe ...

(born 1965), novelist *

Iván Thays Iván Thays is a Peruvian author, professor and television host. Life Thays was born on October 21, 1968, in Lima. He studied languages and literature at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. After his study he continued as a professor at ...

(born 1968), writer *

Esteban Pavletich Trujillo Esteban Pavletich Trujillo (13 May 1906 - 8 February 1981) was a Croatian Peruvians, Croatian-Peruvian writer, journalist, and political activist. Early life and education Esteban Pavletich Trujillo was born in Huánuco, Peru on 13 May 1906 ...

(1906-1981), poet, novelist, essayist

See also