Manuel Mejía Vallejo facts for kids

Manuel Mejía Vallejo

Manuel Mejía Vallejo (born April 23, 1923 – died July 23, 1998) was a famous Colombian writer and journalist. He was known for writing about the people and places of the Andean mountains in Colombia. Many experts say his stories captured the unique spirit and symbols of this region.

Who Was Manuel Mejía Vallejo?

Manuel Mejía Vallejo was born in Jericó, a town in Antioquia, Colombia. He studied at the Bolivarian Pontifical University. He also studied painting and sculpture in Medellín. Early in his career, he worked as a journalist for the newspaper El Sol. He also helped create a group called Grupo La Tertulia.

Between 1949 and 1957, Manuel Mejía Vallejo lived in other countries. He spent time in Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Later, in 1978, he became the director of a writing workshop. This workshop was at the Pilot Public Library in Medellín.

He received important honors for his work. The National University of Colombia gave him a special Doctor Honoris Causa degree. He also taught literature at the National University of Colombia in Medellín. His 1988 novel, La casa de las dos palmas, won the Rómulo Gallegos Prize. This is a very important award for Spanish-language literature. Many of his books were set in the area where he grew up. Manuel Mejía Vallejo passed away in El Retiro, Colombia.

His Books and Stories

Manuel Mejía Vallejo wrote many novels, short stories, and poetry books. His works often explored themes related to the Colombian mountains and the lives of its people.

Novels

• La Tierra éramos nosotros (1945)
• Al pie de la ciudad (1958)
• El día señalado (1964), which won the Premio Nadal
• 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), which won the Rómulo Gallegos Prize and was shown on Colombian television
• Los abuelos de la cara blanca (1991)

Short Stories

• Tiempo de sequía (1957)
• Cielo cerrado (1963)
• Cuentos de zona tórrida (1967)
• Las noches de las vigilias (1975)
• Otras historias de Balandú (1990)
• Sombras contra el muro (1993)
• La venganza y otros relatos (1995)
• La muerte de Pedro Canales
• Riña de cuatro gallos
• Que despierten sus sueños
• El hombre vegetal
• Aquí yace alguien
• El milagro
• Los julianes
• La guitarra
• El cielo cerrado
• Miedo
• Una canoa bajo el Orinoco
• Palo caido
• El sitio del agua

Poetry Books

• Prácticas para el olvido (1977)
• El viento lo dijo (1981)
• Memoria del olvido (1990)
• Soledumbres (1990)

See also

In Spanish: Manuel Mejía Vallejo para niños