José María Arguedas

Peruvian novelist and anthropologist who bridged Indigenous and Western cultures in literature

José María Arguedas (1911–1969) redefined Latin American literature by centering Quechua Indigenous voices in his novels, blending Andean oral traditions with Spanish prose. Born in Peru’s Andean highlands, he grew up speaking Quechua and endured cultural alienation during his mestizo upbringing. His works, like Deep Rivers (1958), depict Indigenous resilience against colonial exploitation.

Arguedas’s unique narrative style, termed ‘Andean heteroglossia’, wove Quechua syntax and cosmology into Spanish texts, challenging Eurocentric literary norms. As an anthropologist, he documented Indigenous music and rituals, advocating for cultural preservation. His essay ‘The Fox from Up Above and the Fox from Down Below’ (1971) critiques Peru’s neocolonial inequalities, remaining a touchstone for postcolonial studies.

Despite battling depression, Arguedas’s legacy persists in movements for Indigenous rights. His translation of Quechua myths into Spanish opened cross-cultural dialogues, inspiring writers like Mario Vargas Llosa. In 2021, Peru declared his birthday ‘José María Arguedas Day’ to honor his contribution to national identity.