Famous Salvadoran Writers

Claudia Lars was a Salvadoran poet best remembered for her work Sonnets of Michael, which earned her second place in the Floral Games in Guatemala in 1941. Some of her best-known works include Estrellas en el Pozo, Romances de Norte y Sur, and Sobre el Angel y el Hombre.

Nicaraguan-Salvadoran author and poet Clara Isabel Alegría Vides, better known as Claribel Alegría, was an influential name in Central American literature. The Neustadt Prize winner was known for her masterpieces such as Flowers from the Volcano. She was highly critical of the Salvadoran military government and often wrote on socio-political issues.

Consuelo de Saint-Exupéry was a Salvadoran-French artist and writer. She is perhaps best remembered for her tumultuous marriage with French aristocrat Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The Tale of the Rose, a memoir detailing her marriage with Saint-Exupéry, was published posthumously in 2000 and became a national sensation. The marriage also inspired a biopic titled Saint-Ex.

Salarrue was a Salvadorian poet, writer, and painter. He is best remembered for his contribution to a newspaper called Patria, which was owned by a prominent Salvadoran intellectual named Alberto Masferrer. Apart from working as an editor for the newspaper, Salarrue also wrote a series of short stories that came to be known as Cuentos de Cipotes.

Alberto Masferrer was a Salvadoran intellectual, essayist, philosopher, journalist, and fiction writer. He is best remembered for his contribution to the progression of the philosophy of vitalismo. He traveled widely and served as a Salvadoran ambassador in Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, and Belgium. Alberto Masferrer also worked as a teacher and taught in many countries like Guatemala, Argentina, and Honduras.

Prudencia Ayala was a Salvadoran social activist and writer. A pioneering women's rights activist in her country, Ayala was the first woman to run for president in El Salvador and Latin America. A prolific writer, Prudencia Ayala published novels and poems and also contributed to many newspapers in El Salvador.

Alfredo Espino was a Salvadoran poet best remembered for his book Sad Vessels. His book, a collection of 96 poems, is counted among El Salvador's most published books of poetry. Unfortunately, Alfredo Espino did not live long enough to witness his poetry published.

Horacio Castellanos Moya is a Salvadoran journalist, short story writer, and novelist. An important writer and journalist, he helped establish a weekly publication called Primera Plana in 1995. Horacio Castellanos Moya is the recipient of several prestigious awards such as the Premio Nacional de la Novela and Manuel Rojas Ibero-American Narrative Award.

Irma Lanzas was a Salvadoran writer and educator. She started her career as a teacher and worked as a professor in many prestigious institutions like the National University of El Salvador. Later in her life, Irma Lanzas established herself as an important writer and published popular books like Toward the Kingdom by Faith and Grass Song.

Manlio Argueta is a Salvadoran poet, novelist, writer, and critic. Although Argueta's main area of interest is poetry, he is best known internationally for his popular novel One Day of Life. The novel, which portrays the brutality of the Salvadoran army, has been translated into many languages. 

Francisco Gavidia was a Salvadoran writer, speaker, historian, educator, politician, journalist, and translator. A multi-talented personality, Gavidia's work in literature, theater, music, philosophy, and politics continue to have a strong impact in El Salvador. Francisco Gavidia is also credited with mentoring the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío.

Juan José Cañas was a Salvadoran poet best remembered for his contribution to the national hymn of El Salvador. Cañas is said to have written the national hymn along with Italian conductor and composer Juan Aberle. In 1902, President Tomás Regalado honored Juan José Cañas with a gold medal for writing the lyrics of the Salvadoran national anthem.

Matilde Elena López was a Salvadoran poet, playwright, essayist, and literary critic. She also worked as a professor at the University of El Salvador. A revolutionary with leftist ideas, Matilde Elena López is credited with developing an extensive literary work favoring women's rights.

Mario Bencastro is a Salvadoran painter and novelist. His work primarily focuses on the Salvadoran Civil War. A multi-talented personality, Mario Bencastro is also known for writing short stories as well as plays. 

Alice Lardé de Venturino was a Salvadoran writer and poet. Best remembered for her lyric poems, Lardé has been recognized and honored by the government of Chile as well as El Salvador. Apart from writing poems, Alice Lardé de Venturino also published scientific works throughout her career.

Claudia Hernández González is a Salvadoran writer who specializes in writing short stories. Many of her stories depict the effects of the Salvadoran Civil War. Widely regarded as one of the greatest living Salvadoran writers, Claudia Hernández González was honored with the prestigious Anna Seghers Prize in 2004.

Jacinta Escudos is a Salvadoran novelist, poet, and short story writer. Her extensive body of work also includes journalistic chronicles and creative nonfiction. She also works as a translator as she is fluent in English, Spanish, German, and French. Jacinta Escudos also contributes as a blogger and is well known for her official blog, Jacintario.

Pedro Geoffroy Rivas was a Salvadoran poet, linguist, and anthropologist. A rebellious and individualistic poet, Rivas made immense contributions to the poetic development in El Salvador. Chilean poet and politician Pablo Neruda was influenced heavily by Pedro Geoffroy Rivas' work.

Arturo Ambrogi was a Salvadoran journalist and writer. He is often counted among the pioneers of Salvadoran literature alongside Alberto Masferrer and Francisco Gavidia. Some of his best known works include Máscaras, Manchas y Sensaciones, Cuentos y Fantasías, and Sensaciones del Japón y de la China.

William Archila is a Salvadoran Latino poet and writer. Over the course of his career, Archila has won several prestigious awards like the International Latino Book Award-Poetry, Red Hen Poetry Prize, and Emerging Writer Fellowship Award. Apart from being a writer, William Archila also teaches English in El Salvador and the USA.

María Teresa Tula is a Salvadoran activist and political writer. She is best known for her association with Comadres, a group which supports those who have been subjected to political assassination and forced disappearance in El Salvador.

Ricardo Cabrera Martínez was a Salvadoran poet, tenor, and diplomat. He is best known as a tenor and composer within the romance genre of Mexican and Cuban boleros. Ricardo Cabrera Martínez is credited with creating a poem titled Vereda Tropical, which was adapted by Gonzalo Curiel into a song.

Miguel Angel Espino was a Salvadoran writer, lawyer, and journalist. The younger brother of the famous lyric poet Alfredo Espino, Miguel started his career as a journalist and worked for several newspapers such as La Prensa Gráfica during the 1920s. He then went on to establish himself as a writer and is best remembered for his novel Men Against Death. 

Jose Roberto Cea is a Salvadoran novelist and poet. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest living Salvadoran poets and novelists. His immense contribution to Salvadoran literature has won him several international and national literary prizes such as the Premio Internacional Rubén Darío. 

Rafael Menjivar Ochoa was a Salvadoran novelist, writer, translator, and journalist. He is best remembered for his novel Historia del Traidor de Nunca Jamás, which earned him an EDUCA Latinoamerican award. Apart from working in El Salvador, Rafael Menjivar Ochoa was also active in Mexico, where he published many of his books.

Jose Antonio Pineda is a Salvadoran author, poet, and actor. He is credited with co-founding the Straight Theatre in San Francisco. As an actor, Jose Antonio Pineda has played prominent roles in movies like Clash of the Empires and The King Maker.

María Álvarez de Guillén was a Salvadoran writer, businesswoman, and women's rights activist. One of the first women from El Salvador to publish a novel, Álvarez was also active in the movement for women's suffrage in her country. María Álvarez de Guillén led numerous campaigns that addressed many social and political issues faced by women.

Nora Méndez is a Salvadoran poet best known for writing resistance poems in reaction to the political situation in her country. She has also written poems that discuss the status of women and domestic violence in El Salvador. A multi-talented personality, Nora Méndez also worked as a singer-songwriter during the 1980s and appeared alongside a band named Nuevamérica.

Lilian Serpas was a Salvadoran poet best remembered for her association with Che Guevara. Many believe that Serpas may have had a physical and intense relationship with Che Guevara. Lilian Serpas has also been featured on a postage stamp in El Salvador.

Ric Salinas is a Salvadoran actor, producer, and writer. He is credited with co-founding a comedy group called Culture Clash along with Jose Antonio Burciaga, Herbert Siguenza, and Richard Montoya. Ric Salinas has also played important roles in films like Encino Man, Camera Obscura, and Mi Vida Loca.

Salvadoran-born-Guatemalan journalist and writer Teresa Bolaños de Zarco was noted for her fights for the rights of Soviet Jews and freedom of the press. Co-founder and President of the Association of Women Journalists of Guatemala and founder and Vice-President of National Reconciliation Commission, Teresa was honoured by the President of the Republic, Vinicio Cerezo, as Notable Citizen in a Lifetime.

Vicente Acosta was a Salvadoran poet who published various papers and diaries. He worked with many publications and is credited with founding a prominent cultural and scientific journal called La Quincena. Vicente Acosta also contributed immensely to a newspaper named La Unión.

Alfonso Quijada Urias is a Salvadoran author and poet. Many of his works discuss the effects of war and life in Central America. Over the course of his career, Alfonso Quijada Urias has received many awards for his contributions to Salvadoran literature.

Alfredo Betancourt was a Salvadoran writer whose extensive body of work includes short stories, philosophical works, travel memories, and literary critique. Alfredo Betancourt also served as the director of the Escuela Normal Alberto Masferrer from 1949 to 1956. 

Dina Posada is a Salvadoran-Guatemalan poet. She is currently working in Guatemala where she contributes as a writer to several publications. Some of her poems have been translated into several other languages. Counted among the important poets in Central America, Dina Posada's work has also inspired several other artistic endeavors.

Jose Maria Peralta Lagos was a Salvadoran writer, politician, and military engineer. He is perhaps best remembered for his service as the Minister of National Defense from 1 March 1911 to 9 February 1913. Peralta Lagos is also credited with overseeing the establishment of the Teatro Nacional de El Salvador along with José Emilio Alcaine in the early 20th century.