Virgilio Rodríguez Macal
Encyclopedia
Virgilio Rodríguez Macal (Jun 28, 1916-February 13, 1964) was a Guatemala
n writer
, journalist, and diplomat who won various international and national prizes. As a novelist he is noted for integrating his deep knowledge of Meso American and Guatemalan history and geography into his stories, often setting his novels in colorful Guatemalan jungle settings including its biologically rich flora and fauna.
. He is considered one of the most popular novelists in Central American literature. Many of his works are based in the departments of Alta Verapaz
and Baja Verapaz
and are noted for displaying his actual factual knowledge of the fauna and traditions and the richness of his characters and locations.
His most acclaimed work is his novel La mansión del pájaro serpiente which has been translated into several languages. His personality, like that of men born in the early decades of the twentieth century, was influenced by the long dictatorship of Jorge Ubico
, the revolution of 1944 and by the so-called liberation movements which occurred in 1954.
Macal also served some time as a diplomat, and was a consul in Barcelona
, Spain. Later Rodriguez Macal, settled in Santiago, Chile
for many years, and was a frequent collaborator of the great newspaper "El Mercurio
". Later, residing in Guatemala, he was the director of "Diario de Centroamérica."
This book contains some similarities with the author's life as the main character Valentine Ochaeta returns after several years studying abroad, his hometown, with a suitcase full of hopes and dreams that are contrary to the reality of their families who are in misery. This forces the subject of the novel to become more adventurous in the jungles of Peten
as he seeks fortune out of the plight of his family. Through this journey he explores the roots of Guatemala history and their ancestors as he matures and becomes a man.
The novel ddresses the issues facing the hopes and dreams experienced by the young juveniles juxtaposed against the stark reality that confronts them as an adult. The novel won the Central sciences, Literature and Fine Arts Award on September 15, 1953.
Lish Zenzeyul. The fauna and flora from the jungles of Peten and Verapaz
are portrayed in this picturesque novel entering a "world of green mystery" as it means, with snakes and monkey contrasted against the white man's world, the men of cities. In his words, the forest is more open and more logical than civilisation.
, Izabal
, to the jungle region of Peten
. This novel tells of the misfortunes of the narrator and his steward Pedro. This book, apart from having a large content of action and romance, is told in an emotional style with an element of "disguised" political criticism towards the military government during this period in the country of Guatemala.
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...
n writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, journalist, and diplomat who won various international and national prizes. As a novelist he is noted for integrating his deep knowledge of Meso American and Guatemalan history and geography into his stories, often setting his novels in colorful Guatemalan jungle settings including its biologically rich flora and fauna.
Biography
Macal was born on June 28, 1916 in Guatemala CityGuatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
. He is considered one of the most popular novelists in Central American literature. Many of his works are based in the departments of Alta Verapaz
Alta Verapaz
Alta Verapaz is a department in the north central part of Guatemala. The capital and chief city of the department is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered to the north by El Petén, to the east by Izabal, to the south by Zacapa, El Progreso, and Baja Verapaz, and to the west by El Quiché.Also in Alta Verapaz...
and Baja Verapaz
Baja Verapaz
Baja Verapaz is a department in Guatemala. The capital is Salamá.Baja Verapaz houses the Mario Dary Biotope Preserve, preserving the native flora and fauna of the region, especially the endangered national bird of Guatemala, the Resplendent Quetzal....
and are noted for displaying his actual factual knowledge of the fauna and traditions and the richness of his characters and locations.
His most acclaimed work is his novel La mansión del pájaro serpiente which has been translated into several languages. His personality, like that of men born in the early decades of the twentieth century, was influenced by the long dictatorship of Jorge Ubico
Jorge Ubico
Jorge Ubico y Castañeda was a Guatemalan dictator who held the title of President of Guatemala from 14 February 1931 to 4 July 1944.-Early years:...
, the revolution of 1944 and by the so-called liberation movements which occurred in 1954.
Macal also served some time as a diplomat, and was a consul in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain. Later Rodriguez Macal, settled in Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
for many years, and was a frequent collaborator of the great newspaper "El Mercurio
El Mercurio
El Mercurio is a conservative Chilean newspaper with editions in Valparaíso and Santiago. Its Santiago edition is considered the country's paper-of-record and its Valparaíso edition is the oldest daily in the Spanish language currently in circulation. El Mercurio is owned by El Mercurio S.A.P...
". Later, residing in Guatemala, he was the director of "Diario de Centroamérica."
Guayacán
Petén
Petén or Peten may refer to:*Petén , a department of Guatemala*Petén Basin, the geographical / archaeological region of Mesoamerica and a center of the Maya civilization*Lake Petén Itzá, a lake in the Petén Basin region...
as he seeks fortune out of the plight of his family. Through this journey he explores the roots of Guatemala history and their ancestors as he matures and becomes a man.
The novel ddresses the issues facing the hopes and dreams experienced by the young juveniles juxtaposed against the stark reality that confronts them as an adult. The novel won the Central sciences, Literature and Fine Arts Award on September 15, 1953.
El mundo del misterio verde
This book contains the stories collected from the lips of the Indian Q'eqchíQ'eqchi
The Q'eqchi' language, also spelled Kekchi, is one of the Mayan languages, natively spoken within Q'eqchi' communities in Guatemala and Belize. In Guatemala, Q'eqchi' is spoken in the departments of Alta Verapaz, Petén, Izabal, Baja Verapaz, and El Quiché...
Lish Zenzeyul. The fauna and flora from the jungles of Peten and Verapaz
Verapaz
Verapaz is a municipality in the San Vincente department of El Salvador. Verapaz means 'true peace' . It has been the site of two recent natural disasters. An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale on the 13 February 2001 and the 2009 Salvador floods and mudslides in November 2009.-References:...
are portrayed in this picturesque novel entering a "world of green mystery" as it means, with snakes and monkey contrasted against the white man's world, the men of cities. In his words, the forest is more open and more logical than civilisation.
La mansión del pájaro serpiente
Meaning "The mansion of the snake bird" the author makes beneficial use of the oral histories of Mayan mythology and the experiences of the novel subject, the tireless adventurer. Beautiful stories where animals humanize themselves from the jungles of the Central American tropics are told in a colorful story surrounded by the lush greenery of the tropical forest.Carazamba
The novel is a narrative work set in 1940s Guatemala. The novel takes the reader to different latitudes of the country, from the port city of LivingstonLivingston, Guatemala
Livingston is the name of a town in Izabal Department, eastern Guatemala, at the mouth of theRío Dulce at the Gulf of Honduras. The town serves as the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name.It was Guatemala's main port on the Caribbean Sea before the construction of nearby Puerto...
, Izabal
Izabal
Izabal may refer to various locations in Guatemala:* Izabal Department* Lago de Izabal a lake within Izabal department* Izabal a town within Izabal department...
, to the jungle region of Peten
Petén
Petén or Peten may refer to:*Petén , a department of Guatemala*Petén Basin, the geographical / archaeological region of Mesoamerica and a center of the Maya civilization*Lake Petén Itzá, a lake in the Petén Basin region...
. This novel tells of the misfortunes of the narrator and his steward Pedro. This book, apart from having a large content of action and romance, is told in an emotional style with an element of "disguised" political criticism towards the military government during this period in the country of Guatemala.
Works
- La mansión del pájaro serpiente°
- El mundo del misterio
- CarazambaCarazambaCarazamba is a 1949 Criollo novel by the Guatemalan writer Virgilio Rodríguez Macal. The novel is set during 1940s Guatemala.-Plot:The novel is a narrative describing Guatemala in the 1940s. The book takes the reader to different parts of the country, from the port city of Livingston, Izabal, to...
- Jinaya
- Guayacán
- Negrura
- Sangre y clorofila