Criollismo in Spanish America: Reflections on the Legacy of a Century-Old Literature

Abstract

Criollismo refers to the regionalist literature of cultural affirmation through which Spanish-American writers represented the ethnic and geographic singularity and the diversity of the flora and fauna of their countries, during the period in which the new nations were celebrating their first hundred years of independence. The article provides a historical review of Criollismo, as well as a reflection on the variety of contents and expressions that shaped it, suggesting that it is an “umbrella” movement that includes diverse narratives. Now that these nations are celebrating the bicentennial of their independence and Criollismo is a century old, it is necessary to revisit the movement and study it as one of the continental literatures that helped define native essences and shape modern and original national identities.