May 05, 2023
Soledad Acosta de Samper's 190th Birthday
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates the 190th birthday of Soledad Acosta de Samper, a Colombian journalist, historian, and novelist who is considered one of the most renowned South American writers of the 19th century. She wrote more than 20 novels, 50 short stories, 4 plays, and more. She was a pioneer in Colombian literature and dedicated much of her work to the recognition of women.
Acosta de Samper was born in Bogotá on this day in 1833. She was the daughter of Joaquín Acosta, a prominent figure in the fight for Colombian independence, and studied in Canada and France when she was young. She found her love for writing when she returned to Colombia in 1855.
She founded several magazines and newspapers like La Mujer (The Woman, 1878), La Familia (The Family, 1884), and more. Acosta de Samper started exploring fictional writing that introduced a historical element while continuing her journalistic work. Traditionally, history was mostly written by men who would exclude important women characters and figures. Acosta de Samper made sure to mention and recognize women in history in her writing — a true disruption at the time.
For the next 35 years, Acosta de Samper published a variety of works including novels, plays, short stories, literary studies, and historical treatises. The Colombian Ministry of Culture declared 2013 “Soledad Acosta de Samper Year” to revive her works and honor her life.
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