Bolivian literature


The constant political turmoil that Bolivia has experienced throughout its history has slowed the development of Bolivian literature. Many talents have had to emigrate or were silenced by the internal conflict. In recent years the literature of Bolivia has been in a process of growth, with the appearance of new writers. Older writers such as Adela Zamudio, Oscar Alfaro, and Franz Tamayo continue to be important.
Nearly half of Bolivia's population speaks indigenous languages such as: Quechua, Aymara or Guarani. The indigenous peoples of Bolivia have a rich oral tradition, as expressed in myths, legends, and stories; these stories generally have not been transcribed in writing.

Notable writers

Notable Bolivian writers include:

The Bolivian Novel

In 2004, a book-length survey of the best Bolivian novels was published. It attempted to identify the top 10 novels in Bolivian literature, winnowing them down from a longer list of 91 novels. The study was done by Carlos Diego de Mesa Gisbert. Below is the list of top 30 novels as identified in the book.
  1. Juan de la Rosa by Nataniel Aguirre
  2. Raza de Bronce by Alcides Arguedas
  3. La Chaskanawi by Carlos Medinaceli
  4. Los deshabitados by Marcelo Quiroga
  5. Aluvión de fuego by Oscar Cerruto
  6. Metal del diablo by Augusto Cespedes
  7. Matias el apostol suplente by Julio de la Vega
  8. Manchay Puytu by Nestor Taboada Teran
  9. Felipe Delgado by Jaime Saenz
  10. Tierras hechizadas by Adolfo Costa du Reis
  11. La candidatura de Rojas by Armando Chirveches
  12. Tirinea by Jesus Urzagasti
  13. Los fundadores del alba by Renato Prada Oropeza
  14. En las tierras del Potosi by Jaime Mendoza
  15. Yanakuna by Jesús Lara Lara
  16. Socavones de angustia by Fernando Ramirez Velarde
  17. Altiplano by Raul Botelho Gozalvez
  18. La casa solariega by Armando Chirveches
  19. La nina de sus ojos by Antonio Diaz Villamil
  20. La sima fecunda by Augusto Guzman
  21. Los Andes no creen en Dios by Adolfo Costa du Reis
  22. Mallku by Gaston Suarez
  23. El signo escalonado by Nestor Taboada Teran
  24. Historia de la Villa Imperial by Bartolome Arzans
  25. Su excelencia y su ilustrisima by Santiago Vaca Guzman
  26. Paginas barbaras by Jaime Mendoza
  27. Sangre de mestizos by Augusto Cespedes
  28. Repete by Jesús Lara Lara
  29. Prisionero de guerra by Augusto Guzman
  30. Mateo Montemayor by Fernando Diez de Medina