Manuel Argüello Mora was born in

San José, Costa Rica San José (; meaning "Saint Joseph") is the capital city, capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and the capital of San José Province. It is in the center of the country, in the mid-west of the Costa Rican Central Valley, Central Valley, wi ...

in 1834. He is one of the foremost Costa Rican writers, and with 1888's ''Misterio'', was its first

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 wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...

. He obtained his education at the University of Santo Tomás in Costa Rica and the Universidad de San Carlos in

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, where he obtained a degree in law. Orphaned at a young age, he was brought up by his uncle

Juan Rafael Mora Porras Juan Rafael Mora Porras (8 February 1814, San José, Costa Rica – 30 September 1860) was President of Costa Rica from 1849 to 1859. Life and career Mora first assumed the presidency upon the resignation of his younger brother, Miguel Mor ...

, the

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

of Costa Rica between 1849 and 1859, and his

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to oth ...

''La trinchera'' recounts Mora Porras' campaign against

William Walker William Walker may refer to: Arts * William Walker (engraver) (1791–1867), mezzotint engraver of portrait of Robert Burns * William Sidney Walker (1795–1846), English Shakespearean critic * William Walker (composer) (1809–1875), American Bap ...

's forces in

Nicaragua Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America aft ...

in 1856. After Mora Porras was deposed, he followed his uncle into

exile Exile or banishment is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons ...

in Europe in 1859. He returned in 1860 during Mora Porras' attempt to regain power, and was spared from the

firing squad Firing may refer to: * Dismissal (employment), sudden loss of employment by termination * Firemaking, the act of starting a fire * Burning; see combustion * Shooting, specifically the discharge of firearms * Execution by firing squad, a method of ...

which executed the former president. Between 1860 and 1902 he served on the Costa Rican

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

and was the rector of the University of Santo Tomás. Along with writing within a number of

genres Genre () is any style or form of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other form ...

, he also founded the weekly newspaper ''La Reforma''. He died in San José in 1902.

Bibliography

* Luisa (novella, 1887) * Mi familia ( cuadros de costumbre, 1888) * Misterio (novel, 1888) * El huerfanillo de Jericó (novel, 1888) * Costa Rica pintoresca (short story, 1899) * Margarita (historical novel, 1899) * Elisa Delmar (historical novel, 1899) * La trinchera (historical novel, 1899) * La bella herediana. El amor a un leproso (short story, 1900) 1834 births 1902 deaths Writers from San José, Costa Rica Costa Rican male writers Vice presidents of Costa Rica 19th-century Costa Rican judges Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica judges {{CostaRica-writer-stub