José Santos Chocano
Encyclopedia
José Santos Chocano Gastañodi (Lima
, Perú
born May 14, 1875 – Santiago
, d. Chile
July 13, 1934) was a Peruvian
poet who is also known as "The Singer of Americas", because the first line of one of his most celebrated poems: "I am the singer of the America, Autochthonous and Savage"" (" Yo soy el Cantor de América, autóctono y salvaje", from the poem "Blasón" in Alma América). In the early 20th century his fame stretched through the continent and even to Madrid and Paris. One of his best-known collections is the 1906 Alma América, which opened with a dedicatory poem addressed to Alfonso XIII of Spain
that cast the collection as the rediscovery of Latin America through verse; elsewhere in the collection.
Chocano's life was highly active and covered a wide range of places and times. He was admitted to the National University of San Marcos
at the early age of 14 years old After a short term in jail for political activism, he relocated to Madrid in the early 20th century. In this city his poems were first recognized by the Spanish literary and artistic circles; many notable artist and writers invited him to recite his poems at their reunions. This allowed Chocano to interact with prominent Spanish and Latin American intellectuals and artist such as: Juan Gris
, who become known by this pseudonym incidentally by signing his the series of modernist style illustrations that he created for Chocano's books entitled Alma América and Poemas Indoespañoles (Soul America: Indo-Spanish poems) in 1906 .; Miguel de Unamuno
, who wrote the prologue for his book "Soul America"; Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo
, and Rubén Darío
and thus his name reached a prominent status not only in Spain, but in France and all over Latin America. His 1906 poetry collection, Soul America, was offered and taken as a "New World" corrective to the purportedly cosmopolitan modernismo
of Ruben Darío
. Chocano as a sophisticated writer, whose metrics and creativity was sought by many statesmen, who contracted his services as a writer and adviser for many years, thus Chocano worked for different regimes and traveled a decade and a half through Latin and Central America, where he thanks to his status as a prominent and skillful writer, befriended an astonishing variety of political figures from different points on the ideological spectrum, such as: Pancho Villa
in Mexico, Manuel Estrada Cabrera
in Guatemala, and evenly Woodrow Wilson
in the USA, with whom he struck up a correspondence.
After the coup which deposed Estrada Cabrera in 1920, Chocano was briefly imprisoned, and subsequently returned to Peru, where he became associated with President Augusto B. Leguía
. On November 5, 1922, Chocano was recognized by the government of Peru as a most notable poet of Peru, he was laureated as "The Poet of America" in a ceremony featuring Leguia himself, various ministers, delegates from all the provinces of Peru, and a number of young and established writers.
Three years later, Chocano became embroiled in a dispute with Mexican intellectual José Vasconcelos
; when Peruvian students sided with Vasconcelos, Chocano phoned the journalist Edwin Elmore to complain about his recent article on the polemic; insults and threats quickly followed. Elmore dashed off an article detailing Chocano's attack on him, and hurried to his office at the newspaper "El Comercio
" to insert it. Unfortunately, as Elmore left the building, Chocano arrived at it, and after Elmore slapped Chocano, the latter pulled a gun and shot the young journalist in the stomach. Elmore died soon after.
Released after two years in jail, Chocano moved to Santiago de Chile, where he lived in dire poverty while preparing a new collection of poetry, Primicias de Oro de Indias. He was stabbed to death on a streetcar in 1934; reports are divided as to whether his assassin was a stranger, a madman, or a rival in a love affair.
, sharing this distinction with Ruben Darío
(Nicaragua
), Manuel González Prada (Peru
), José Martí
(Cuba
), Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera
(México
), José Asunción Silva
(Colombia
) and others. However, Chocano's style is difficult to classify exactly, since it is very diverse and copious, for instance some experts
state that his writing is nearer to the romanticism
that to modernism; while others, like the American critic, Willis Knapp Jones, have denominated Chocanos' work as "novomundista", i.e., a poet writing about the "new World" or America. Chocano was a very prolific poet, who also wrote epic and lyric poems.
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Perú
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
born May 14, 1875 – Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, d. Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
July 13, 1934) was a Peruvian
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
poet who is also known as "The Singer of Americas", because the first line of one of his most celebrated poems: "I am the singer of the America, Autochthonous and Savage"" (" Yo soy el Cantor de América, autóctono y salvaje", from the poem "Blasón" in Alma América). In the early 20th century his fame stretched through the continent and even to Madrid and Paris. One of his best-known collections is the 1906 Alma América, which opened with a dedicatory poem addressed to Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority...
that cast the collection as the rediscovery of Latin America through verse; elsewhere in the collection.
Chocano's life was highly active and covered a wide range of places and times. He was admitted to the National University of San Marcos
National University of San Marcos
The National University of San Marcos is the most important and respected higher-education institution in Peru. Its main campus, the University City, is located in Lima...
at the early age of 14 years old After a short term in jail for political activism, he relocated to Madrid in the early 20th century. In this city his poems were first recognized by the Spanish literary and artistic circles; many notable artist and writers invited him to recite his poems at their reunions. This allowed Chocano to interact with prominent Spanish and Latin American intellectuals and artist such as: Juan Gris
Juan Gris
José Victoriano González-Pérez , better known as Juan Gris, was a Spanish painter and sculptor who lived and worked in France most of his life...
, who become known by this pseudonym incidentally by signing his the series of modernist style illustrations that he created for Chocano's books entitled Alma América and Poemas Indoespañoles (Soul America: Indo-Spanish poems) in 1906 .; Miguel de Unamuno
Miguel de Unamuno
Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo was a Spanish essayist, novelist, poet, playwright and philosopher.-Biography:...
, who wrote the prologue for his book "Soul America"; Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo
Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo
Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo was a Spanish scholar, historian and literary critic. Even though his main interest was the History of ideas, and Hispanic philology in general, he also cultivated poetry, translation and philosophy.He was born at Santander where he showed that he was an infant prodigy...
, and Rubén Darío
Rubén Darío
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento , known as Rubén Darío, was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo that flourished at the end of the 19th century...
and thus his name reached a prominent status not only in Spain, but in France and all over Latin America. His 1906 poetry collection, Soul America, was offered and taken as a "New World" corrective to the purportedly cosmopolitan modernismo
Modernismo
Modernismo is Spanish for modernism, however the term Modernism also indicates a more specific art movement:* Modernismo refers to a Spanish-American literary movement, best exemplified by Rubén Darío...
of Ruben Darío
Rubén Darío
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento , known as Rubén Darío, was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo that flourished at the end of the 19th century...
. Chocano as a sophisticated writer, whose metrics and creativity was sought by many statesmen, who contracted his services as a writer and adviser for many years, thus Chocano worked for different regimes and traveled a decade and a half through Latin and Central America, where he thanks to his status as a prominent and skillful writer, befriended an astonishing variety of political figures from different points on the ideological spectrum, such as: Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
in Mexico, Manuel Estrada Cabrera
Manuel Estrada Cabrera
Manuel José Estrada Cabrera was President of Guatemala from 8 February 1898 to 15 April 1920.Manuel Estrada forcibly took the presidency after the assassination of José María Reina. The Guatemalan cabinet called an emergency meeting to appoint a new successor, but declined to invite the General...
in Guatemala, and evenly Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
in the USA, with whom he struck up a correspondence.
After the coup which deposed Estrada Cabrera in 1920, Chocano was briefly imprisoned, and subsequently returned to Peru, where he became associated with President Augusto B. Leguía
Augusto B. Leguía
Augusto Bernardino Leguía y Salcedo was a Peruvian politician who twice occupied the Presidency of Peru, from 1908 to 1912 and from 1919 to 1930.-Early life:...
. On November 5, 1922, Chocano was recognized by the government of Peru as a most notable poet of Peru, he was laureated as "The Poet of America" in a ceremony featuring Leguia himself, various ministers, delegates from all the provinces of Peru, and a number of young and established writers.
Three years later, Chocano became embroiled in a dispute with Mexican intellectual José Vasconcelos
José Vasconcelos
José Vasconcelos Calderón was a Mexican writer, philosopher and politician. He is one of the most influential and controversial personalities in the development of modern Mexico. His philosophy of "indigenismo" affected all aspects of Mexican sociocultural, political, and economic...
; when Peruvian students sided with Vasconcelos, Chocano phoned the journalist Edwin Elmore to complain about his recent article on the polemic; insults and threats quickly followed. Elmore dashed off an article detailing Chocano's attack on him, and hurried to his office at the newspaper "El Comercio
El Comercio
El Comercio is a Peruvian newspaper based in Lima. It has a circulation of more than 120,000 copies. It was founded in 1839, making it the oldest newspaper of Peru and one of the oldest in the Spanish language....
" to insert it. Unfortunately, as Elmore left the building, Chocano arrived at it, and after Elmore slapped Chocano, the latter pulled a gun and shot the young journalist in the stomach. Elmore died soon after.
Released after two years in jail, Chocano moved to Santiago de Chile, where he lived in dire poverty while preparing a new collection of poetry, Primicias de Oro de Indias. He was stabbed to death on a streetcar in 1934; reports are divided as to whether his assassin was a stranger, a madman, or a rival in a love affair.
Style
Chocano is considered one of the more important leaders of the Latin-American ModernismModernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
, sharing this distinction with Ruben Darío
Rubén Darío
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento , known as Rubén Darío, was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo that flourished at the end of the 19th century...
(Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
), Manuel González Prada (Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
), José Martí
José Martí
José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban...
(Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
), Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera
Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera
Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera was a Mexican writer and political figure.-Background:He was born in Mexico City on December 22, 1859, and in his youth worked as a journalist and was elected as a Deputy....
(México
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
), José Asunción Silva
José Asunción Silva
José Asunción Silva was a Colombian poet. He is considered one of the founders of Spanish-American Modernism.-Life:...
(Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
) and others. However, Chocano's style is difficult to classify exactly, since it is very diverse and copious, for instance some experts
state that his writing is nearer to the romanticism
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
that to modernism; while others, like the American critic, Willis Knapp Jones, have denominated Chocanos' work as "novomundista", i.e., a poet writing about the "new World" or America. Chocano was a very prolific poet, who also wrote epic and lyric poems.