Manuel Zeno Gandía
Encyclopedia
Dr. Manuel Zeno Gandía
(January 10, 1855 – 1930) wrote the novel
La Charca (The Pond), which is considered by many to be the first Puerto Rican novel.
, where he was born and raised. As a child, Zeno Gandía witnessed firsthand the harsh working conditions of the poor farm workers. After receiving his primary and secondary education in his hometown, he went to Spain where he studied medicine at the University of Barcelona
's school of medicine. He graduated with the titles of Doctor in Medicine
and Surgeon
. He developed his love for political literature
during his stay in Spain. His interest in politics
led him to become an outspoken advocate for Puerto Rican independence.
regions in Puerto Rico. This naturalist novel tells about the injustices that the poor farm hand suffered against the rich landowners. La Charca is a Puerto Rican classic and is one of four novels in Las Crónicas de un Mundo enfermo (Chronicles of a Sick World). The other three are Garduña, El Negocio (The Business) and Redentores (The Redeemers). In the 1960s, Zeno Gandía's best-known novel, La Charca was translated to English by Kal Wagenheim. It remains in print as The Pond, published by Markus Wiener Publishers of Princeton NJ.
in 1898, Zeno Gandía traveled to Washington, D.C.
where, together with Eugenio María de Hostos
, he proposed the idea of independence for Puerto Rico. The men were disappointed when their ideas were rejected by the government of the United States and the island was converted into a territory
. Zeno Gandía returned to the island where he continued to write and was politically active. As a member of the Puerto Rico Union Party, he also advocated allowing voters to choose among non-colonial options, including annexation, an independent protectorate and autonomy. In 1912, Zeno Gandía joined the Independence Party
, a new political party founded by Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
which promote Puerto Rico's independence. That same year, Zeno Gandía together with Matienzo Cintrón and Luis Llorens Torres
wrote a manifesto which stated that it was time for Puerto Rico to have its independence. The Independence Party, which also included Eugenio Benítez Castaño, and Pedro Franceschi as founding members, was the first party in the history of the island to exclusively want Puerto Rican independence and established a precedent for future organizations with similar ideologies.
, Puerto Rico in 1930. Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming a school and avenues after him. In his native Arecibo, the Credit Cooperative and an industrial park are named after Zeno Gandía.
An 11 feet (3.4 m) statue of him was unveiled on March 27, 2007 by Senate President Kenneth McClintock
on the grounds of Puerto Rico's Capitol, to honor Zeno Gandía, with grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren in attendance.
(January 10, 1855 – 1930) wrote the novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
La Charca (The Pond), which is considered by many to be the first Puerto Rican novel.
Early years
Zeno Gandía's parents were wealthy land owners in the city of Arecibo, Puerto RicoArecibo, Puerto Rico
Arecibo is a municipality in the northern midwest coast of Puerto Rico and located by the Atlantic Ocean, north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta, and Florida. Arecibo is spread over 18 wards and Arecibo Pueblo...
, where he was born and raised. As a child, Zeno Gandía witnessed firsthand the harsh working conditions of the poor farm workers. After receiving his primary and secondary education in his hometown, he went to Spain where he studied medicine at the University of Barcelona
University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
's school of medicine. He graduated with the titles of Doctor in Medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and Surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
. He developed his love for political literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
during his stay in Spain. His interest in politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
led him to become an outspoken advocate for Puerto Rican independence.
Novelist
When Zeno Gandía returned to Puerto Rico, he set up his medical practice in Arecibo. In 1894, he published La Charca (The Pond), the first serious Puerto Rican novel, which dealt with the harsh life in the remote and mountainous coffeeCoffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
regions in Puerto Rico. This naturalist novel tells about the injustices that the poor farm hand suffered against the rich landowners. La Charca is a Puerto Rican classic and is one of four novels in Las Crónicas de un Mundo enfermo (Chronicles of a Sick World). The other three are Garduña, El Negocio (The Business) and Redentores (The Redeemers). In the 1960s, Zeno Gandía's best-known novel, La Charca was translated to English by Kal Wagenheim. It remains in print as The Pond, published by Markus Wiener Publishers of Princeton NJ.
Independence advocate
After Puerto Rico was invaded during the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in 1898, Zeno Gandía traveled to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where, together with Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos known as "El Ciudadano de América" , was a Puerto Rican educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate....
, he proposed the idea of independence for Puerto Rico. The men were disappointed when their ideas were rejected by the government of the United States and the island was converted into a territory
United States territory
United States territory is any extent of region under the jurisdiction of the federal government of the United States, including all waters including all U.S. Naval carriers. The United States has traditionally proclaimed the sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing its...
. Zeno Gandía returned to the island where he continued to write and was politically active. As a member of the Puerto Rico Union Party, he also advocated allowing voters to choose among non-colonial options, including annexation, an independent protectorate and autonomy. In 1912, Zeno Gandía joined the Independence Party
Puerto Rican Independence Party
The Puerto Rican Independence Party is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from United States suzerainty....
, a new political party founded by Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón was a lawyer, a member of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives, and a lifelong political contrarian. He favored Puerto Rican autonomy when Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony. After the Spanish-American War, when the island was ceded to the United States, he advocated...
which promote Puerto Rico's independence. That same year, Zeno Gandía together with Matienzo Cintrón and Luis Llorens Torres
Luis Lloréns Torres
Luis Llorens Torres , was a Puerto Rican poet, playwright, and politician. He was an advocate for the independence of Puerto Rico.-Early years:...
wrote a manifesto which stated that it was time for Puerto Rico to have its independence. The Independence Party, which also included Eugenio Benítez Castaño, and Pedro Franceschi as founding members, was the first party in the history of the island to exclusively want Puerto Rican independence and established a precedent for future organizations with similar ideologies.
Legacy
Zeno Gandía died in SanturceSanturce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...
, Puerto Rico in 1930. Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming a school and avenues after him. In his native Arecibo, the Credit Cooperative and an industrial park are named after Zeno Gandía.
An 11 feet (3.4 m) statue of him was unveiled on March 27, 2007 by Senate President Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
on the grounds of Puerto Rico's Capitol, to honor Zeno Gandía, with grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren in attendance.
See also
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican literature