Máximo Soto Hall
Encyclopedia
Máximo Soto Hall was an important early 20th century Guatemalan
novelist. He is most known for his 1899 novel El problema, though he is recognized in Central America
for the whole of his literary output. He was born in Guatemala City
in 1871, and served in the dictatorship
of Manuel Estrada (whose government served as a model for Miguel Ángel Asturias
' novel El Señor Presidente
) until 1919, at which time he emigrated
to Costa Rica
, and then to Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, where he served as a journalist
for the newspaper
La Prensa. He died in 1944 in Buenos Aires
and his body is interred in the San Lázaro cemetery in Antigua Guatemala
. Many of his novels, including El problema and La sombra de la Casa Blanca, concern the presence and influence of the United States
in Central America
. His works traverse a great number of literary traditions, including Modernismo
and the historical novel
, the latter influenced by his fellow countryman José Milla
. He also wrote poetry
, as well as political treatises and sociological works.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
novelist. He is most known for his 1899 novel El problema, though he is recognized in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
for the whole of his literary output. He was born in Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
in 1871, and served in the dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
of Manuel Estrada (whose government served as a model for Miguel Ángel Asturias
Miguel Ángel Asturias
Miguel Ángel Asturias Rosales was a Nobel Prize–winning Guatemalan poet, novelist, playwright, journalist and diplomat...
' novel El Señor Presidente
El Señor Presidente
' is a 1946 novel written in Spanish by Nobel Prize–winning Guatemalan writer and diplomat Miguel Ángel Asturias . A landmark text in Latin American literature, explores the nature of political dictatorship and its effects on society. Asturias makes early use of a literary technique now known...
) until 1919, at which time he emigrated
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
to Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, and then to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where he served as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
for the newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
La Prensa. He died in 1944 in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and his body is interred in the San Lázaro cemetery in Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches...
. Many of his novels, including El problema and La sombra de la Casa Blanca, concern the presence and influence of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. His works traverse a great number of literary traditions, including Modernismo
Modernismo
Modernismo is Spanish for modernism, however the term Modernism also indicates a more specific art movement:* Modernismo refers to a Spanish-American literary movement, best exemplified by Rubén Darío...
and the historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
, the latter influenced by his fellow countryman José Milla
José Milla y Vidaurre
José Milla y Vidaurre was one of the most outstanding Guatemalan writers in the 19th century. He was also known by the name Pepe Milla and the pseudonym Salomé Jil....
. He also wrote poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, as well as political treatises and sociological works.
Partial bibliography
- El ideal, 1894
- El problema, 1899
- Catalina, 1900
- Herodías, 1927
- La sombra de la Casa Blanca, 1927
- Don Diego Portales, 1935
- La divina reclusa, 1938
Source
- Albizúrez Palma, Fraicisco and Catalina Barrios y Barrios. Historia de la literatura guatemalteca, tomo 2. Guatemala: Editorial Universitaria, 1982.