Jorge Carrera Andrade

Jorge Carrera Andrade (1902-1978), Ecuadorian poet and diplomat. He was born in Quito and is considered the greatest Ecuadorian writer and one of the foremost Spanish-language poets of the 20th century. He held diplomatic posts in Europe, South America, and Japan and served as Ecuadorian minister of foreign affairs. His travels had a marked influence on his poetry, which abounds in place-names and descriptions. Although some of his poems reflect his identification with social revolution, most of his poetry consists of metaphorical descriptions of places and objects and is noted for its sensitive, original imagery. Among Carrera's works are Secret Country (1922; trans. 1946), Rol de la manzana (1935, Catalogue of the Apple), La hora de las ventanas iluminadas (1937, Hour of the Lighted Windows); and Edades poéticas (1958, Poetic Eras). A volume of Selected Poems, in English translation, appeared in 1972.