Rubén Darío

Father of Spanish-American literary modernism who revolutionized Spanish-language poetry

Rubén Darío (1867-1916), born Félix Rubén García Sarmiento in Nicaragua, redefined Latin American literature through his groundbreaking poetic works. His 1888 collection Azul... marked the birth of Modernismo, introducing Symbolist techniques and musical rhythms that broke from traditional Spanish verse.

As cultural attaché in Europe, Darío blended French Parnassian influences with Hispanic traditions in masterpieces like Prosas Profanas (1896). His later work Cantos de Vida y Esperanza (1905) addressed political themes while maintaining artistic innovation. This literary revolutionary transformed Spanish into a modern poetic language, influencing generations from Neruda to García Lorca.