Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco
Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco was a prominent Ecuadorian writer and influential figure in the literary scene of the 20th century. He began his literary career in the late 1920s, achieving significant recognition in the 1930s with the publication of his first novel, *La casa de los locos*, in 1929. As a member of the Grupo de Guayaquil, he aimed to cultivate an authentic Ecuadorian literature free from European influences. Alongside his writing, Pareja Diezcanseco held various teaching positions, including at the Universidad de Guayaquil and as a visiting professor in several countries, including the United States.
In addition to his literary contributions, he was active in public service, serving as a congressman and as Ecuador's ambassador to France. His works often addressed social issues and inequalities, reflecting his commitment to social awareness. Notable achievements include winning the second prize in the Farrar Rinehart international novel contest for *Las tres ratas* and receiving the esteemed Premio Nacional de Cultura Eugenio Espejo. Pareja Diezcanseco's legacy is characterized by his dedication to both literature and social justice, making him a significant figure in Ecuador's cultural history.
Subject Terms
Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco
Ecuadorian novelist, essayist, professor, politician, and diplomat.
- Born: October 12, 1908
- Birthplace: Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Died: May 3, 1993
- Place of death: Quito, Ecuador
Biography
Renowned Ecuadorian writer Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco began developing his craft as a young man in the 1920’s and 1930’s and broke through as a notable author in the 1930’s. He published his first novel, La casa de los locos, in 1929, and followed that publication with at least six more novels in the 1930’s alone. As a part of the Grupo de Guayaquil, Pareja Diezcanseco and other writers worked toward the development of a truly Ecuadorian literature that was absent of European influences. During this time, Pareja Diezcanseco also continued working other jobs. He taught high school in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from 1931 to 1934, and then began teaching at the college level in 1934, at the Universidad de Guayaquil.
In 1934, he married Mercedes Cucalon Concha, with whom he had three children: Cecilia, Jorge, and Francisco. He served as a representative in Ecuador’s congress in 1938, and his novel Las tres ratas won second prize in the Farrar Rinehart international novel contest three years later. Socially aware, he also served as the chief officer from 1945 to 1948 of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration for Mexico, Central America, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The same characteristics that prompted him to take up such work led to his writing novels that dealt with social issues and inequalities.
Pareja Diezcanseco also traveled as a visiting professor to various universities in Costa Rica and other Spanish-speaking countries and in the United States; he taught at the University of Texas in Austin as a visiting professor in 1982. Always active in and committed to the goings-on of his own nation, the writer also served as the Ecuadorian ambassador to France from 1983 to 1984 and was a member of the Ecuadorian Academy of History of Language. His many awards and honors included the 1979-1980 Premio Nacional de Cultura Eugenio Espejo and a degree of doctor honoris causa from the University of Guayaquil in 1988.
Author Works
Long Fiction:
La casa de los locos, 1929
Río arriba, 1931
El muelle, 1933
La beldaca, 1935
Baldomera, 1938
Don Balón de Baba, 1939
Hombres sin tiempo, 1941
Las tres ratas, 1944
La advertencia, 1956
Los años nuevos, 1956
El aire y los recuerdos, 1958
Los poderes omnímodos, 1964
Las pequeñas estatuas, 1970
La mantícora, 1974
Nonfiction:
La Hoguera Bárbara, 1944
Breve historia del Ecuador, 1946
Bibliography
"Alfredo Pareja y Diez Canseco Manuscripts, 1932–1966." Texas Archival Resources Online, University of Texas, www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utlac/00091/lac-00091.html. Provides a brief biographical sketch and PDFs of several of the author's manuscripts.
Schwartz, Kessel. "Alfredo Pareja y Diez Canseco, Social Novelist." Hispania, vol. 42, no. 2, 1959, pp. 220–28. A general introduction to Pareja Diezcanseco's work.