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Introduction
Latin American literature only rose to global fame in the latter half of the 20th century under the literary movement known as the ‘Boom’. This came about partly as a result of the popularity of the literary style ‘magical realism’, which was spearheaded by the Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. Since then, Latin American literature has maintained a consistent presence on the global literary stage, though its genres, themes, and styles have shifted over time. While schools and universities remain heavily biased towards the study of significant male figures, I will shed light on a selection of female authors who are revolutionising contemporary literature. I hope that, whether you are reading simply for pleasure, or you are in search of new authors to strengthen your personal statement, this selection will inspire you.
Cristina Peri Rossi
About: Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1941, Peri Rossi was a member of the Latin American Boom, alongside authors such as the aforementioned García Márquez, Mario Vargas Llosa and Julio Cortázar. Peri Rossi was exiled from Uruguay in 1972 under the military dictatorship, and she has lived in Spain ever since. Peri Rossi has written both poetry and novels, and she is famous for her discussion of lesbian themes at a time when homosexuality was still very much taboo.
My top recommendation: La nave de los locos (1984), translated as: The Ship of Fools. In this novel, the protagonist, Equis, travels from one unnamed destination to the next after being exiled from his homeland. It is one of Peri Rossi’s most well-known works due to its highly experimental style, as well as its satirical tackling of key themes including gender roles, exile, sexuality and dictatorship.
Cristina Rivera Garza
About: Born in Tamaulipas, Mexico, in 1964, Rivera Garza is both an author and a teacher. I was able to attend a talk by Rivera Garza at Oxford University in February 2025, in which she spoke about her writing process and her use of archives to retell the lost stories of real women.
My top recommendation: El verano invencible de Liliana (2021), translated as: Liliana’s Invincible Summer. This autobiography, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Memoir-Autobiography in 2024, articulates the story of Rivera Garza’s sister, who lost her life to femicide in 1990 after being murdered by her ex-boyfriend. Femicide in Mexico remains an extremely prominent issue; in 2024, there were 3,427 female homicides, with 829 of these deaths being classified as femicides. Rivera Garza spent years weaving together the pieces of Liliana’s story, which is reflected by the intimate incorporation of Liliana’s notebooks and letters in her handwriting.
Mariana Enriquez
About: Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1973, Enriquez is considered part of the ‘New Argentine Narrative’. The authors within this movement do not conform to a specific genre but are instead united by their emphasis on realism and their reimagining of female characters; unrealistic expectations and idealisation are rejected in favour of engaging with the grittiness of daily life. For Enriquez’s part, she fuses together realism and horror in both her short stories and her novels.
My top recommendation: Las cosas que perdimos en el fuego (2017), translated as: Things We Lost in the Fire. This short story collection, comprised of 12 stories, both explicitly and subtly addresses a range of issues, including gender violence and dictatorship, through the lens of gothic realism. The titular short story is particularly thought-provoking, following a group of women who rebel against male violence through self-inflicted burning.
Gabriela Wiener
About: Born in Lima, Peru, in 1975, Wiener began her career as a journalist and essayist but has since branched out into autofiction and novel-writing. Her stylistic blurring of testimony, memoir and fiction makes her work particularly unique, and she addresses a range of themes, including sexuality and indigeneity.
My top recommendation: Huaco retrato (2021), translated as Undiscovered (although, if it was translated literally, it would be Huaco portrait. The huaco is the name ascribed to ceramic vessels created by pre-Columbian indigenous communities, both for artistic and functional purposes.) This autofictional narrative is an intimate self-exploration, allowing Wiener to grapple with death, love, race and colonial violence, amongst other themes. She is particularly impacted by her heritage of both colonised (she has indigenous ancestry) and coloniser (it is likely that her great-great-grandfather is the colonial explorer, Charles Wiener).
Conclusion
These four female Latin American authors have changed, and continue to change, the stage of contemporary writing. In a literary landscape that is still dominated by men, championing women’s voices is imperative, and exploring the wide-ranging literary worlds that they create is both eye-opening and enjoyable.
