César Abraham Vallejo Mendoza was a Peruvian poet, writer, playwright, and journalist. Although he published only two books of poetry during his lifetime, he is considered one of the great poetic innovators of the 20th century in any language. He was always a step ahead of literary currents, and each of his books was distinct from the others, and, in its own sense, revolutionary. Thomas Merton called him "the greatest universal poet since Dante". The late British poet, critic and biographer Martin Seymour-Smith, a leading authority on world literature, called Vallejo "the greatest twentieth-century poet in any language." He was a member of the intellectual community called North Group formed in the Peruvian north coastal city of Trujillo.
Vallejo in 1929
Monument to César Vallejo at National University of San Marcos, where he studied.
Monument to César Vallejo in Lima. The engraving in Spanish quotes Vallejo "There is, brothers, very much to do."
Monument to César Vallejo in the Jesus Maria District of Lima, Peru.
The North Group was an intellectual community comprising various writers, artists, philosophers, politicians, and intellectuals from Northern Peru, especially from the La Libertad Region. It was founded in 1915 in the city of Trujillo. At first known as the "Bohemians of Trujillo," the community adopted the name "the North Group" in 1923. Early leaders included journalist Antenor Orrego and poet José Eulogio Garrido. Its most prominent members included poet Cesar Vallejo, politician Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, Alcides Spelucín, Macedonio de la Torre, Juan Espejo Asturrizaga, Francisco Xandóval, and Ciro Alegría. This group inspired the work of Eduardo González Viaña, one of its modern successors.
The "bohemia trujillana" or "North Group" in 1916. From left to right, sitting: José Eulogio Garrido, Juvenal Chávarry, Domingo Parra del Riego, César Vallejo, Santiago Martín Lynch, Óscar Imaña. Standing: Luis Sánchez Ferrer, Federico Esquerre, Antenor Orrego, Alcides Spelucín, Gonzalo Sumarán.
Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, President of the Constituent Assembly of 1978 of the Republic of Peru; he is considered among the most important people of the 20th century in Peru
César Vallejo
Eduardo González Viaña, author of novel Vallejo in hells.