Elisa Hall de Asturias facts for kids
Elisa Hall de Asturias (born February 26, 1900 – died May 20, 1982) was a talented writer and thinker from Guatemala. In the 1930s, she wrote a book called Semilla de mostaza (which means Mustard Seed). This book caused a big debate that lasted for almost 70 years! Many people at the time didn't believe a woman could have written such an important book. But in 2011 and 2012, new studies proved that she was indeed the author. Her work is now a big part of Guatemala's literary history.
Quick facts for kids
Elisa Hall de Asturias
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| Born |
María Laura Elisa Hall Sánchez
26 February 1900 |
| Died | 20 May 1982 (aged 82) Guatemala City, Guatemala
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| Nationality | Guatemalan |
| Occupation | writer |
| Years active | 1937–1939 |
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Notable work
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Semilla de mostaza |
Life Story
María Laura Elisa Hall Sánchez was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on February 26, 1900. Her father, Guillermo Francisco Hall Avilés, was a poet and a teacher. Her mother was Elisa Sánchez. Elisa was the only girl in her family, with five brothers. She grew up in a home filled with people who loved books and learning. She started writing when she was just twelve years old. Her brother, Guillermo Roberto Hall, who was also a poet, encouraged her.
From a young age, Elisa wrote letters to many famous writers. Her old scrapbooks show that between 1911 and 1917, she kept letters from important people like Juan J. Cañas and Alberto Masferrer. Her family was very artistic and smart. Her father helped start the Guatemalan Academy of Language. Her grandfather, Edward Hall, was a British poet and pianist. Her cousins, Francisco Fernández Hall and Máximo Soto Hall, were also writers. Even her niece, Francisca Fernández Hall Zúñiga, was special. She was the first woman in Central America to become a Civil Engineer!
During the time when Manuel Estrada Cabrera was president, Elisa's family had to leave Guatemala. They went to Honduras and El Salvador. Her family returned to Guatemala after a big earthquake in El Salvador in 1917. But then, Guatemala City also had a terrible earthquake that destroyed much of the city. Elisa wanted to study medicine, but she was not allowed because she was a girl.
In the late 1920s, Elisa met José Luis Asturias Tejada. They got married on February 3, 1923. After they married, Elisa spent time with the Asturias family, reading and studying many books. Her father-in-law had a huge library. He also kept detailed family records. These records showed how the first family member, Sancho Álvarez de Asturias, came to Guatemala a long time ago. Reading these old documents inspired Elisa to write a historical novel about his life.
Elisa Hall was ahead of her time. She was the first woman in Guatemala to get a driver's license. She had the tenth license ever given out! People also believe she was the first female pilot in Guatemala.
Her Books
Madre maya
In the mid-1920s, Elisa wrote a novel called Madre maya (which means Mother Maya). This book was never published. Later, when her book Semilla de Mostaza caused a stir, a newspaper director named Napoleón Viera Altamirano said he knew about Madre Maya since 1928. He had discussed it with Alberto Masferrer.
Semilla de Mostaza
Elisa wrote in her diary that she started Semilla de Mostaza on February 5, 1937. She finished it on February 3, 1938. At that time, Jorge Ubico Castañeda was the dictator of Guatemala. It was hard to publish books without the government's approval. So, Elisa's father showed the first parts of her book to the Guatemalan Language Academy in May 1937. He hoped to get their support. The president liked the book and agreed to its publication. Elisa's father and brother, Guillermo, helped her prepare the book for printing.
The first 1150 copies of Semilla de Mostaza were printed in October 1938. The book even had pictures drawn by Elisa herself. When the book came out, people were very surprised. Many thought it was a masterpiece, like the works of famous Spanish writers such as Lope de Vega and Miguel de Cervantes. They believed it would make Guatemalan literature much richer. A journalist named Federico Hernández de León wrote good reviews about it. But other critics doubted that a woman, especially one without formal university training, could have written such a complex book.
Many ideas came up about who really wrote the book. Some thought Elisa had copied an old manuscript. Others wondered if Miguel Ángel Asturias, another famous writer, had written it. Some even thought he was a "ghost writer" for her. The debate went on in Guatemalan newspapers for over two years! Articles appeared almost every day. The argument spread to El Salvador, Argentina, and even Spain. Much of the debate focused on the fact that Elisa was a woman. As the arguments got more heated, the book itself was almost forgotten. People were more interested in showing off their own knowledge of language and history.
Mostaza
Elisa tried to talk with those who doubted her, but it was hard. So, she decided the best way to defend herself was to write the second part of Sancho Álvarez de Asturias's story. This book, called Mostaza (meaning Mustard), was published in October 1939. She hoped it would stop the attacks on her writing skills. When Mostaza came out, her critics changed their approach. They no longer said she didn't write the book. Instead, they claimed the second book was not as good as the first.
In 1977, Orlando Falla Lacayo brought the debate back. He published a book saying Elisa Hall de Asturias could not have written Semilla de mostaza. He argued that the book showed too much knowledge of old Spanish. But in 2011, a Spanish expert named Gabriela Quirante Amores studied the books for a year. She concluded that Elisa Hall did write them. She pointed out that the sexism of the 1930s in Guatemala made it hard for women to get credit for their talents. In 2012, Quirante's master's thesis proved Elisa's authorship. A group of literary experts at the Universidad de Alicante recognized her proof.
Later Life
Elisa had planned to write a third book in the series. But she got tired of the constant attacks from a small group of people. She lost interest in writing and instead focused on oil painting, watercolors, and gardening.
In 1944, Elisa Hall de Asturias joined a group of women to form the Unión Femenina Guatemalteca Pro-ciudadanía (Union of Guatemalan Women for Citizenship). This group wanted women to have more civil rights, including the right to vote for women who could read and write. After the Guatemalan revolution in 1944, a new law was passed. It gave all literate citizens, including women, the right to vote. In 1947, she helped organize the Primer Congreso Interamericano de Mujeres (First Inter-American Congress of Women). This meeting, held in Guatemala City, focused on making men and women equal.
When she was 60, Elisa started learning French. She spent her time reading books, encyclopedias, and magazines. She also wrote some free verse poetry. Proving that she wrote Semilla de Mostaza became very important to her. In 1981, she put together all the sources she had used to write her book.
Elisa Hall died in Guatemala City on May 20, 1982. Her family was with her.
See also
In Spanish: Elisa Hall de Asturias para niños
