North Group

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. ^[1] 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,^[2] 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 North Group was started in order to create artistic and social renewal during the time of global cultural crisis that occurred after the First World War. It was extremely important to the cultural development of Peru, and several of its members were prominent in the fields of literature, philosophy, and social action at the national and international levels.

History

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

Eduardo González Viaña, author of novel *Vallejo in hells*.

The North Group, which brought together young students from the National University of Trujillo, was initially led by animator, writer, and philosopher Antenor Orrego. As the author of several books and as the editor of a newspaper and magazine, he led the group in opposition to another trujillano intellectual group, led by the poet Victor Alejandro Hernandez, which was considered to be more traditional and aristocratic. The North Group's purpose, as made explicit later in the prologue to Orrego Trilce (Vallejo poems), was to enhance the "culture and the mental elevation of Trujillo".

The Group adopted the name "Bohemians of Trujillo" following an article written by the poet Juan Parra in Lima magazine (22 October 1916). Parra, who was warmly received on a recent visit to Trujillo, wrote of his admiration for the literary group, calling it by that name. He praised, among others, the poet Vallejo, citing one of his verses.

Members

Representative members of the group and its successors include the following:

César Vallejo, poet and educator
Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, journalist and political leader
Eduardo González Viaña, novelist and journalist
José Eulogio Garrido, poet
Antenor Orrego, writer, journalist and philosopher
Alcides Spelucín, poet
Macedonio de la Torre, painter, sculptor and musician
Eloy Espinoza, poet
Óscar Imaña, poet
Federico Esquerre
Julio Esquerre
Belisario Espelucín
Juan Espejo Asturrizaga, poet and educator
Francisco Xandóval, poet
Alfonso Sánchez Arteaga (Camilo Blas), painter
Carlos Manuel Cox, political leader
Carlos Valderrama Herrera, musician
Domingo Parra del Riego
Juan José Lora, poet
Jorge Eugenio Castañeda Peralta, Doctor of Laws
Francisco Dañino
Manuel Vásquez Díaz
Néstor Alegría
José Agustín Haya de la Torre
Crisólogo Quesada
Daniel Hoyle, musician
Alfredo Rebaza Acosta, educator
Ciro Alegría, novelist and journalist
Luis Sánchez Ferrer, political leader
Gerardo Chávez, artist
Pedro Azabache Bustamante, painter

References

^ (in Spanish)"César A. Vallejo 1892–1938, La bohemia de Trujillo o Grupo Norte" (PDF). Retrieved 28 September 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Illustrious figures from the Department of La Libertad". Retrieved 28 September 2012.

Selected works available in English

The Black Heralds (Translator: Rebecca Seiferle) Copper Canyon Press ISBN 1-55659-199-3
Trilce (Translator: Dave Smith) Mishima Books. ISBN 0-670-73060-2
Autopsy on Surrealism (Translator: Richard Schaaf) Curbstone Press. ISBN 0-915306-32-8

External links

Human Potential: The Life and Work of César Vallejo
Information about Vallejo from the Academy of American Poets
Griffin Poetry Prize biography, including audio and video clips of Guillermo Verdecchia reading Clayton Eshleman's translation of Vallejo's Guitar
Interview with Vallejo, the only extant interview with Vallejo, 1931.

[1] (in Spanish)"César A. Vallejo 1892–1938, La bohemia de Trujillo o Grupo Norte" (PDF). Retrieved 28 September 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[2] "Illustrious figures from the Department of La Libertad". Retrieved 28 September 2012.

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