César Vallejo Papers

Poet, writer, and playwright, César Vallejo was born on March 16, 1892 in Santiago de Chucho, Peru. Vallejo was born in a remote Andean village in the department of La Libertad. He worked at a sugar plantation as a youth, witnessing first-hand the exploitation of farmers and indigenous workers in his hometown. Vallejo would later study in Trujillo, receiving his degree in Spanish literature from la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo in 1917.

"Los heraldos negros", Vallejo's first book of poems, was published in 1918. Vallejo's upbringing in a mestizo (Spanish and Quechua) family found its way into his writing and his political activity. At a young age Vallejo was dealt a double blow with the passing of his mother and an older brother. Soon thereafter in 1920 Vallejo was imprisoned for several months for his political activities in support of the Peruvian indigeneous. This time in prison would have a major impact on his mental state in his subsequent years.

Eventually in 1923 Vallejo would leave for Paris where he would spend most of his remaining years. With the publication of his most notable work, "Trilce", in 1922, and continued publication of articles in Peru-based journals like "Amauta", Vallejo was able to maintain himself, albeit in an impoverished reality.

Vallejo's time in Paris and later in Madrid were marked by political activity as a Marxist and anti-Fascist, writing poetry, article contributions to weekly and monthly publications in Peru, Spain, and Italy, and marrying Georgette Phillipart in 1934. Vallejo died on April 15, 1938 at the age of 46 from a bout with a rare form of malaria. His remains were interred at the Montroughe cemetery and then later on April 3, 1970, moved and reinterred in the Montparnasse cemetery at the wish of of his widow, Georgette.

Many of Vallejo's works were published posthumously, including poems and poetry collections "España, Aparta de Mí Este Cáliz" (1939) and Poemas Humanos (1939). Vallejo's poetry is marked by its breaking with traditional poetic forms. This is seen in his use of unconventional syntax and experimental use of language. Stylistic choices which would leave a major impact on readers and contemporaries. Beyond the stylistic originality of his poetry, Vallejo also achieved wide reaching acclaim due to his writing's universal themes of suffering, hope, and solidarity.