Pablo Jose Diaz

Pablo José Díaz was born in Talitas, a town located between Concepción del Uruguay and Gualeguaychú, on December 14, 1901. His poems are mainly traditionalist and reflect his love for the simple things in life, describing nature and women. His book Brazas de Ñandubay (Embers of Ñandubay) was published in 1958.

The poet died at the age of 58 on February 23, 1959.

(Translated by Luciano Martinolich)

Luis Maria Grane

Luis Maria Grane was born in Gualeguaychu on December 2, 1893. He published three poetry books : En Olor de Juventud (In Smell of Youth) 1916, Alabastrón (Alabastron) 1920 and Ananké (Ananke) 1924.

In 1927, he sent in his poems to participate in the first Juegos Florales (Floral Games) held in the city. Unfortunately, he fell ill and died some time later that year. Seven days after his death, he won the poetry contest with his poem Tríptico del Canto (Triptych of Singing). He died at the age of 33.

(Translated by Cristian Dopazzo)

Luis Felix Jeannot Sueyro

Jeannot Sueyro was born on a farm in the Gualeyán district, Gualeguaychú on November 20, 1917.

He began his preaching work on December 20, 1942. He was the priest at San Francisco Catholic church, the promoter of the "Padre Pio" foundation and the pilgrimages to the Del Valle Virgin, in Pehuajó.

When he was 82 years old, two important events took place. On the one hand, his book called Los Versos del Cura Gaucho (The Gaucho Priest’s Verses ) was published in an attempt to rescue his literary work, and on the other hand, he was named Distinguished Citizen of Gualeguaychú.

The gaucho priest died in Gualeguaychú at the age of 90 on July 30, 2008.

(Translated by Luciano Martinolich)

Mateo Dumon Quesada

He was born on April 24, 1901. When he was approximately 16 years old, he began to write “Gauchos” sonnets and his first book called El Sol en el Rastrojo (The Sun in the Stubble) was published afterwards.  
His most outstanding books were Entre Ríos written in 1925; Liberacion (Liberation), his book of mystic sonnets that came out in 1939, and Poemas Chúcaros (Sullen Poems).

He died at the age of 53 in Gualeguaychú on May 13, 1954.

(Translated by Sol Breda)

Olegario Victor Andrade

Olegario Victor Andrade was a poet and a journalist. He was born on March 6, 1839 in Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil as his parents had emigrated there due to political reasons.

In 1850, he returned to Argentina to study at Historico Colegio de Concepcion del Uruguay; where his education was funded by General Justo Jose de Urquiza. Six years later, he won a poetry contest with a lyric song called Mi Patria (My Homeland) that was dedicated to Urquiza and he abandoned his studies later that year.

In 1857, in Santa Fe, he took full responsibility for the management of El Patriota newspaper , which supported his protector Rosendo Fraga’s political ideas. As a result, he started working as a journalist in different newspapers such as El Mercantil, El Pueblo Entrerriano, El Porvenir and La Tribuna.

 Andrade settled permanently in Buenos Aires in 1875, and then collaborated with several magazines, for example, El Album del Hogar, La Ondina del Plata, Revista Literaria, El Arte del Plata, La Revista del Rio de la Plata and continued working full-time in La Tribuna.

In conclusion, Olegario was a poet and a journalist deeply involved in national politics. On October 25, 1882, he was coming back from Montevideo in order to start his second office as national deputy when he suffered a stroke. He finally died five days later in his house in Buenos Aires at the age of 43.

(Translated by Victoria Franchini)

Manuel Portela

He was born in Salto, Republica Oriental de Uruguay on November 24, 1897, but a few days after his birth, his family moved to Gualeguaychú.

He was a passionate man of letters, especially, journalism and poetry. His first book titled Musica Vana (Vain Music) was published in 1931, Sonetos del Buen Amor (Good Love Sonnets) 3 years later and Doce Romances y una Balada (Twelve Romances and One Ballad) was published in 1945.

Some notable books are Canto a Entre Rios (Song to Entre Ríos), Canto a Gualeguaychu (Song to Gualeguaychú) and one book with children’s poetry called Cucuruchos (Ice-cream Cones) which could not be published due to his death in 1949.

(Translated by Christian Gimenez)

Manuel Palacios

He was born in Gualeguaychú on September 9, 1887. He is described as an incurable bohemian with a gentle and poetic soul. His poems reflect a healthy and naïve spirit although in several of them, he seems to be pessimistic and sad. He died on August 4, 1965 when he was 78 years old.

(Translated by Camila Tommassi)

Pablo Juan Luis Pebete Daneri

He was born in Gualeguaychú on September 11, 1914. He was educated at Olegario Víctor Andrade School, and graduated as a lawyer at La Plata National University in 1938.

His only book 14 (Versos) (14 Verses) was published in 1976. He died in his hometown at the age of 67 on July 28, 1983.

(Translated by Adriel Sarachaga)

Luis Nicolás Cayetano Palma

He was born in Gualeguay in 1863 and arrived in Gualeguaychú in 1887. At age 24 he humbly committed to the community which had adopted him as own. He was a poet and an excellent speaker who took part in several important events in the city. He delivered his speeches at the Railway Station opening in 1889 and at the laying of the foundation stone of the North Cemetary Chapel.

He was elected deputy in 1890. Later on, in february 1893 he was re-elected deputy representing Gualeguaychú in the Province's Chamber. This term of office was suddenly interumped by his death on august 27, 1894 at age 41.

On august 27, 1919 his remains were transfered to Gualeguaychú to mark his 25th death anniversary.

(Translated by Carla Butala)

Gervasio Bibiano Mendez

The so-called “poet of pain” was born in Gualeguaychu, on December 30, 1843. From an early age, he wrote poems and prose and in 1863, he was already writing for La Democracia newspaper.

Following Justo Jose de Urquiza’s death, troops led by Lopez Jordan invaded Gualeguaychu. As a result, the April 15 Battalion was assembled and Gervasio took part in it. When the battle finished, the poet suffered the first symptoms of a serious illness which would render him invalid.

In 1876, he moved to Buenos Aires and settled there permanently. In 1878, now bed-ridden, he founded El Album del Hogar magazine. That year, the committee in charge of the repatriation of General San Martin’s remains, commissioned him to write a poem for the General. After the poem was recited at Colon Theatre, his name became the main talking point all over Buenos Aires.

He died there on April 18, 1897. Gervasio’s remains were brought back to his hometown to mark the centenary of his birth on May 23, 1943.

(Translated by Alan Vera)

Ana Etchegoyen

Ana Etchegoyen was a teacher, a professor, a poet and a lecturer. She was born in Gualeguaychú on November 28, 1886.

In 1914, she graduated as a teacher; a profession she practiced with genuine commitment. Moreover, she was a French and Literature teacher at Olegario Victor Andrade School. She collaborated with the people affected by the First World War in France as she was of French descent.

In her poems, children are the major theme. Her books are: Una Vida (One Life), Jorge, Amanecer en canciones (Dawn in Songs), Alas fugaces (Fugacious Wings), and Lámparas Encendidas (Lighted Lamps).
Ana died on May 25, 1966.

(Translated by Luciana Riquelme)