Famous Uruguayan Writers

Eduardo Galeano was a Uruguayan novelist, journalist, and writer. Regarded as one of the most respected writers of Uruguay, Galeano was honored by the Global Exchange with the prestigious International Human Rights Award in 2006. In 2010, he was awarded the Stig Dagerman Prize.

Mario Benedetti was a Uruguayan novelist, journalist, and poet. Widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most important writers in the Spanish-speaking world, Benedetti was a key member of the Generation '45. Benedetti's works were published in 20 languages and he also contributed to the weekly newspaper, Marcha, where he served as the literary director from 1954 to 1973.  

Horacio Quiroga was a Uruguayan poet, playwright, and short story writer. He is best remembered for depicting jungles and characters with mental illnesses in his stories. Horacio Quiroga is credited with influencing the works of Gabriel García Márquez and Julio Cortázar.

Fede Alvarez is a Uruguayan filmmaker best known for directing American films like Evil Dead and Don't Breathe. Alvarez achieved international prominence after the release of Evil Dead, which grossed $97 million against a budget of $17 million. Fede Álvarez is also known for directing popular short films like Ataque de pánico!

Carlos Páez Rodríguez is a Uruguayan motivational speaker and writer. Nicknamed the man of the iron spirit, Rodríguez is best known for surviving a plane crash and spending 72 days in the Andes, during which the survivors resorted to cannibalism to keep themselves alive. The story inspired a film titled Alive where Carlos Páez Rodríguez was played by Bruce Ramsay.

Juan Carlos Onetti was a Uruguayan novelist and short story writer. Counted among Latin America's most eminent writers, Onetti was the recipient of several prestigious honors including the Uruguay National Literature Prize. He was also an important member of the Generation '45, a group of writers who had a significant influence in the cultural and literary life of their country.

Mauricio Rosencof is a Uruguayan poet, playwright, and journalist. He is best known for his book El regreso del Gran Tuleque, which inspired a 1999 film titled El chevrolé. Mauricio Rosencof's life and career, including his 12-year tenure in prison, were the basis for the 2018 drama film A Twelve-Year Night.

Carlos Páez Vilaró was a Uruguayan abstract artist, potter, sculptor, painter, muralist, composer, writer, and constructor. He began his career as a printing apprentice and then began composing music as well. He was part of the "Grupo de los 8", a movement of Uruguayan artists formed in the 1950s. He enjoyed a successful career but had a troubled personal life. 

Juana de Ibarbourou was a Uruguayan poet whose literary work earned her four nominations for the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature. An early Latin American feminist, Ibarbourou is also regarded as one of the most famous poets of Spanish America. Throughout her life, Juana de Ibarbourou was honored with prestigious awards including the National Academy of Letters.

Cristina Peri Rossi is a Uruguayan poet, novelist, short story writer, and translator. Peri Rossi has also contributed immensely to several media agencies and newspapers such as Diario 16, Agencia EFE, and El Periódico. In 2021, she was honored with the prestigious Miguel de Cervantes Prize for her contributions to literature.

Delmira Agustini was a Uruguayan poet who popularized the topic of female sexuality at a time when men dominated the literary world. Eros, the Greek god of love, served as an inspiration to many of Delmira Agustini's poems about carnal pleasures. Her works have been translated into English and Nepali.

José Enrique Rodó was a Uruguayan essayist best remembered for his 1900 essay Ariel, which has been a significant influence in Latin American culture and letters for over a century now. Thanks to his refined prose style, José Enrique Rodó is widely regarded as the greatest theorist of the modernista literary school.

Victor Hugo Morales is a Uruguayan writer, journalist, and pundit. He is best known as a football commentator and is often counted among the best commentators in the Spanish-speaking world. Victor Hugo Morales is the recipient of the prestigious Rodolfo Walsh Prize.

Jorge Majfud is a Uruguayan American writer and intellectual who has served as a professor in many prestigious institutions like the Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and Jacksonville University. His essays and novels are under study in various universities in Europe, Latin America, and the USA. Majfud's works have been translated into many languages, including English, Italian, French, Portuguese, and German.

Alfredo Zitarrosa was a Uruguayan poet, singer-songwriter, and journalist. Counted among the most influential and popular singer-songwriters of Latin America, Alfredo Zitarrosa specialized in Argentinean and Uruguayan folk genres such as milonga and zamba.

Ángel Rama was a Uruguayan writer, literary critic, and academic. He is best remembered for his work on modernismo. He also held professorships at many universities in the Americas and is credited with founding a couple of publishing houses, namely Editorial Galerna and Editorial Arca. Ángel Rama was also an important member of the Generation '45.

Mateo Chiarino is a Uruguayan writer, actor, and filmmaker. He also directs stage plays and TV series in addition to appearing in them. His performance in a stage play titled Nüremberg earned him a nomination at the Asociación de Cronistas del Espectáculo Awards. Mateo Chiarino also teaches screenwriting to aspiring writers and filmmakers.

One of Uruguay’s best-known poets, Idea Vilariño was initially a professor of literature. Starting her journey with poetry as a teenager, she later came to be known as a member of the Generation of ’45 and gained acclaim for poems such as Ya No. She was also a fine essayist, critic, and translator.

Adelia Silva was a Uruguayan writer, educator, and social activist. The first Afro-Uruguayan to receive a teaching degree, Silva taught in rural schools despite being subjected to sexist and racial discrimination. Adelia Silva is best remembered for playing an important role in changing the perception of equality and freedom in Uruguay.

Considered a pioneer of fabulism, or magic realism, Uruguayan author Felisberto Hernández was also a skilled pianist and composer who had started training in the piano at age 9. By 12, he had started playing in silent-screen film theaters. He later also toured around Uruguay and Argentina, performing at minor concerts.

Part of the Generation of ’45, Uruguayan poet Ida Vitale was the fifth woman to receive the prestigious Miguel de Cervantes Prize, one of the greatest awards in Spanish literature. She was named to BBC’s list of the 100 most influential women of 2019 and has also been a translator, critic, and lecturer.

Uruguayan poet Juan Zorrilla de San Martín is mostly remembered for his 6-canto epic poem Tabaré. He also launched the Catholic periodical El bien público. Regarded as the National Poet of Uruguay, he also penned Hymn to the Tree, a Spanish poem that became popular as a song in various Latin American nations.

Horacio Ferrer was a Uruguayan-Argentine poet, reciter, broadcaster, and tango lyricist. He is best remembered for his collaboration with tango composer Astor Piazzolla; Ferrer contributed by composing the lyrics for many of Piazzolla's tangos, such as Chiquilín de Bachín and Balada para un loco.

Planeta Prize-winning Uruguayan poet Carmen Posadas is best known for her internationally popular novels and children’s books. Born to a diplomat, she traveled around the world with her father, as a child. An Oxford drop-out, she later soared to fame with books such as Five Blue Flies.

Known as the first Latin American transgender senator, Uruguayan lawyer and activist Michelle Suárez Bértora transitioned at 15. An LGBT icon, she was also the first Uruguayan transgender person to obtain a college degree. She also campaigns for body positivity and hopes to make LGBT transition easier legally.

Uruguayan poet Francisco Acuña de Figueroa is remembered for his iconic poems such as Salve Multiforme. He also penned the national anthems of both Uruguay and Paraguay. He had succeeded his father as the state treasurer and had headed the Public Library and Museum as its director.

One of the most significant Spanish literary figures of the early 20th century, Uruguayan poet Julio Herrera y Reissig was noted for his experiments with form and language. Known for his volumes such as Twilight Pianos and Violet Poems, he influenced Spanish Modernism. Unfortunately, ill health marred his literary career.

Known for movies such as A King and His Movie and Marco, el candidato, Uruguayan actor Villanueva Cosse has gained popularity in several Latin American countries, including Argentina. He has also directed and performed in several plays and appeared in TV series such as Black Octopus.

Initially a theater actor, Fabio Zerpa later focused on studying extra-terrestrial life. He also launched a radio program and an online magazine on extra-terrestrial life and began speaking at various conferences on UFO sightings. His books include A Man In The Universe and Men In Black and UFO.

Carlos Maria Dominguez is an Argentine journalist and writer who specializes in literary criticism. Apart from writing novels, biographies, plays, travel chronicles, and short stories, Dominguez has also contributed to the success of popular newspapers like Búsqueda and Brecha. Carlos Maria Dominguez has received several prestigious awards, including the National Essay Prize for his 2002 chronicle Escritos en el agua.

Alcira Soust Scaffo was a Uruguayan poet and teacher who lived in Mexico for over 20 years. She is best remembered for her plight during the Mexican Army's occupation of a public research university called National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1968; Alcira Soust Scaffo was stationed at the university and remained hidden in a bathroom for 15 days!

Emir Rodríguez Monegal was a Uruguayan literary critic and scholar. Regarded as one of the 20th century's most influential and important Latin American literary critics, Monegal was also a key member of the Generation '45. He is also credited with founding an influential magazine called Mundo Nuevo and served as its editor from 1966 to 1968.

A prominent Uruguayan poet of the 20th century, Marosa di Giorgio wrote a total of 14 books of poetry, 3 collections of short stories and one novel. She published her first book of poetry Poemas in 1953 at the age of 22. Also an actress, she was associated with a professional theatre company (1950s-1960s) and appeared in almost thirty productions.

Jacobo Langsner was a Uruguayan playwright who made immense contributions to the Uruguayan theatre from 1950 until his death in 2020. Langsner, whose work focused on depicting the middle-class hypocrisy, was also successful in Argentina. He is perhaps best remembered for his 1962 play Waiting for the Hearse, which was adapted into an Argentine film in 1985.

Considered the most militant among the Afro-Uruguayan writers, Virginia Brindis de Salas was also amongst the first published black woman writers of Uruguay. Her prominent works are two collections of poetry Pregón de Marimoren and Cien Cárceles de Amor. She was a regular contributor to the black artistic journal Nuestra Raza and also co-founded the political party Partido Autoctono Negro.

Armonia Somers was a Uruguayan novelist, feminist, pedagogue, and short story writer. A member of the Generation '45, Somers is best remembered for her debut novel The Naked Woman. Published in 1950, the novel caught the attention of many due to its high erotic content. Prior to her literary career, Somers worked as a teacher and taught in different schools.

Florencio Sánchez was a Uruguayan playwright, political figure, and journalist. He is best remembered for his immense contibution to theater in the River Plate area of Uruguay and Argentina; he is counted among the founding fathers of theater in the region. Florencio Sánchez is considered Uruguay's leading playwright. 

Eduardo Acevedo Díaz was a Uruguayan writer, journalist, and politician. An influential politician, Diaz is credited with militarizing the National Party. Eduardo Acevedo Díaz was also a prolific writer and is credited with founding the Uruguayan Magazine in 1875.

Circe Maia is a Uruguayan essayist, poet, translator, and teacher. She achieved prominence as a poet despite facing difficulties brought on by the civil-military dictatorship of Uruguay. Although her career was affected by the political unrest in her country, Circe Maia managed to receive several prestigious awards such as the Premio Nacional de Poesía de Uruguay. 

Selva Casal was a Uruguayan poet who published several important works. Her poetry won her numerous prizes, such as the National Culture Awards and Premio del Ministerio de Instrucción Pública. Selva Casal is perhaps best remembered for her debut collection Arpa, which was published in 1958.

Enrique Amorim was an Uruguayan writer and novelist best remembered for his work Las quitanderas which deals with rural prostitution. He also contributed as a writer for an Argentine leftist magazine named Los Pensadores. Enrique Amorim also played a major role in erecting a monument to commemorate Federico García Lorca in Salto, Uruguay.