The North Group was an intellectual community comprising various writers, artists, philosophers, politicians, and

intellectuals An intellectual is a person who engages in critical thinking Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgement. The subject is complex; several different definitions exist, ...

from Northern

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

, especially from the

La Libertad Region La Libertad (; in English: ''The Liberty'') is a region in northwestern Peru. Formerly it was known as the Department of La Libertad ('). It is bordered by the Lambayeque, Cajamarca and Amazonas regions on the north, the San Martín Region on t ...

. It was founded in 1915 in the city of Trujillo. At first known as the "Bohemians of Trujillo," the community adopted the name "the North Group" in 1923. Early leaders included journalist

Antenor Orrego Antenor Orrego Espinoza (22 May 1892 – 17 July 1960) was a Peruvian writer and political philosopher of Basque ancestry. He was a member of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA). The Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego (Antenor ...

and poet José Eulogio Garrido. Its most prominent members included poet Cesar Vallejo, politician Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, Alcides Spelucín, Macedonio de la Torre, Juan Espejo Asturrizaga, Francisco Xandóval, and

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. ...

. This group inspired the work of

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 ...

, one of its modern successors. The North Group was started in order to create artistic and social renewal during the time of global cultural crisis that occurred after the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. It was extremely important to the cultural development of Peru, and several of its members were prominent in the fields of literature, philosophy, and social action at the national and international levels.

History

The North Group, which brought together young students from the National University of Trujillo, was initially led by animator, writer, and philosopher Antenor Orrego. As the author of several books and as the editor of a newspaper and magazine, he led the group in opposition to another trujillano intellectual group, led by the poet Victor Alejandro Hernandez, which was considered to be more traditional and aristocratic. The North Group's purpose, as made explicit later in the prologue to Orrego Trilce (Vallejo poems), was to enhance the "culture and the mental elevation of Trujillo". The Group adopted the name "

Bohemians Bohemian or Bohemians may refer to: *Anything of or relating to Bohemia Beer * National Bohemian, a brand brewed by Pabst * Bohemian, a brand of beer brewed by Molson Coors Culture and arts * Bohemianism, an unconventional lifestyle, origin ...

of Trujillo" following an article written by the poet Juan Parra in ''Lima'' magazine (22 October 1916). Parra, who was warmly received on a recent visit to Trujillo, wrote of his admiration for the literary group, calling it by that name. He praised, among others, the poet Vallejo, citing one of his verses.

Members

Representative members of the group and its successors include the following: *

César Vallejo César Abraham Vallejo Mendoza (March 16, 1892 – April 15, 1938) was a Peruvian poet, writer, playwright, and journalist. Although he published only two books of poetry during his lifetime, he is considered one of the great poetic innovators ...

, poet and educator *

Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre (February 22, 1895 – August 2, 1979) was a Peruvian politician, philosopher, and author who founded the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) political movement, the oldest currently existing political ...

, journalist and political leader *

, novelist and journalist * José Eulogio Garrido, poet *

, writer, journalist and philosopher * Alcides Spelucín, poet * Macedonio de la Torre, painter, sculptor and musician * Eloy Espinoza, poet * Óscar Imaña, poet * Federico Esquerre * Julio Esquerre * Belisario Espelucín * Juan Espejo Asturrizaga, poet and educator * Francisco Xandóval, poet * Alfonso Sánchez Arteaga ( Camilo Blas), painter * Carlos Manuel Cox, political leader * Carlos Valderrama Herrera, musician * Domingo Parra del Riego * Juan José Lora, poet * Jorge Eugenio Castañeda Peralta, Doctor of Laws * Francisco Dañino * Manuel Vásquez Díaz * Néstor Alegría * José Agustín Haya de la Torre * Crisólogo Quesada * Daniel Hoyle, musician * Alfredo Rebaza Acosta, educator *

, novelist and journalist * Luis Sánchez Ferrer, political leader * Gerardo Chávez, artist * Pedro Azabache Bustamante, painter

References

Selected works available in English

*''The Black Heralds'' (Translator: Rebecca Seiferle)

Copper Canyon Press Copper Canyon Press is an independent, non-profit small press, founded in 1972 specializing exclusively in the publication of poetry. It is located in Port Townsend, Washington. Copper Canyon Press publishes new collections of poetry by both popu ...

*''Trilce'' (Translator: Dave Smith) Mishima Books. *''Autopsy on Surrealism'' (Translator: Richard Schaaf) Curbstone Press.

External links

{{Commons category, César Vallejo
Human Potential: The Life and Work of César VallejoInformation about Vallejo from the Academy of American PoetsGriffin Poetry Prize biography
including audio and video clips of Guillermo Verdecchia reading Clayton Eshleman's translation of Vallejo's ''Guitar''

the only extant interview with Vallejo, 1931. *

History

Members

See also

References

Selected works available in English

Further reading

External links