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Manuel Mejía Vallejo

マヌエル・メヒア・バジェホ

Manuel Mejía Vallejo

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1923-04-23 （Jericó, Antioquia）
Died
1998-07-23 （El Retiro, Antioquia） age 75
Nationality
Colombian
Languages
Spanish
Residence History
Jericó (birthplace) → Medellín (residence and activity) → Venezuela (exile period) → Guatemala (exile period) → Honduras (exile period) → El Salvador (exile period) → El Retiro (place of death)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Journalist, Literature professor, Director (printing press)
Active Years
1945-1998
Affiliations
National University of Colombia (Medellín) — Professor, Departmental Printing Press of Antioquia — Director, Grupo La Tertulia (founding member)
Influenced By
León de Greiff

Education

Bolivarian Pontifical University
Country: Colombia
Reported to have studied there; exact years not specified in sources
Fine Arts Institute of Medellín (painting and sculpture)
Fine Arts
Country: Colombia
Studied painting and sculpture; precise degree information not available

Awards

Rómulo Gallegos Prize
1988
Work: La casa de las dos palmas
Organization: Rómulo Gallegos Foundation
Result: 受賞
Premio Nadal
1964
Work: El día señalado
Organization: Ediciones Destino
Result: 受賞
Casa de las Américas (special mention)
1979
Work: Las muertes ajenas
Organization: Casa de las Américas
Result: 特別言及
Doctor Honoris Causa
Organization: National University of Colombia
Result: 授与

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

La Tierra éramos nosotros

1945 Novel

An early novel written at age 20, marked by strong regional setting and symbolic imagery.

regionalismmemorysymbolism

Al pie de la ciudad

1958 Novel

Explores contrasts between city and countryside; considered an important mid-career work.

urbanizationsocial change

El día señalado

1964 Novel

Published in 1964; winner of the Premio Nadal.

fateindividual trials

Aire de Tango

1973 Novel

Noted for intense emotional depictions and musical metaphors.

passionmemory

Las muertes ajenas

1979 Novel

Focuses on the theme of others' deaths; received a special mention from Casa de las Américas.

deathcommunity

La casa de las dos palmas

1988 Novel

One of his masterpieces: depicts Andean community life; awarded the Rómulo Gallegos Prize in 1988 and adapted for Colombian television.

rural societymemorytradition and change
Adaptations
  • [Television] La casa de las dos palmas (TV adaptation)

Los abuelos de la cara blanca

1991 Novel

A late-career novel focusing on family and inherited traditions.

familytradition

Bibliography

  • La Tierra éramos nosotros (1945)
  • Al pie de la ciudad (1958)
  • El día señalado (1964)
  • Aire de Tango (1973)
  • Las muertes ajenas (1979)
  • Tarde de verano (1981)
  • Y el mundo sigue andando (1984)
  • La sombra de tu paso (1987)
  • La casa de las dos palmas (1988)
  • Los abuelos de la cara blanca (1991)
  • Short stories and poetry collections (various)

Adaptations

  • La casa de las dos palmas (TV adaptation, Colombia)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Andean regional depictionsymbolic, memory-evoking imagerylyrical yet realist narration
Recurring Motifs
mountains and memorycommunity and traditiondeath and renewal

Legacy

Mejía Vallejo is regarded as a leading voice of the Andean strand in contemporary Colombian literature, contributing to national letters through themes of regional memory and symbolism. His major works received national and international recognition, and he was awarded an honorary doctorate.

Archives

  • Likely holdings at the National University of Colombia and regional archives

In Popular Culture

  • Increased public recognition through the television adaptation of 'La casa de las dos palmas'

Trivia

  • He was exiled between 1949 and 1957 to Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
  • Founding member of Grupo La Tertulia and actively involved in regional cultural initiatives.
  • Won the Rómulo Gallegos Prize in 1988 for 'La casa de las dos palmas'.