Elvio Romero

Born in Yegros (Caazapá), the son of a farmer who carved small wooden figures, he spoke only Guaraní as a child, his mother's language. After the 1947 civil war he left the country and never lived there again: he toured the Americas, Asia and Europe giving readings and lectures. His book 'El sol bajo las raíces' (1956) was introduced by Miguel Ángel Asturias. As an essayist he wrote about Miguel Hernández and won the National Literature Prize, in its first edition, with 'El poeta y sus encrucijadas' (1991). He died in Buenos Aires.