About Guatemala

Guatemalan literature has been influenced by its history and culture. One of the most important pre Columbian books is the Popol Vuh.
The Popol Vuh is a poem written by a Quiche. It describes the creation of the world and of humanity, their religion and travels until the founding of their main city, Gumarcaaj.

In 1967, the novelist Miguel Ángel Asturias was awarded a Novel Prize for his book “El Señor Presidente”. Miguel Ángel Asturias was born in Guatemala in 1899 and died in Spain in 1974. He lived many years in exile.
The most important literary award in Guatemala is the Miguel Ángel Asturias National Prize in Literature. It is given annually since 1988.

Other important Guatemalan writers and poets are Luis Cardoza y Aragón, Augusto Monterroso and Mario Monteforte Toledo.
The legends are also part of Guatemalan literature and oral traditions. Since the foundation of the city, the neighbors declared that they had seen a series of ghosts. These stories of ghosts have been told from one generation to the other. The most reminded legends are El Cadejo, La Siguanaba, La Llorona and El Sombrerón.