Manuel Zeno Gandía

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Dr. Manuel Zeno Gandía (born January 10, 1855 in Arecibo , Puerto Rico , † 1930 in Santurce , Puerto Rico) was a Puerto Rican doctor and writer .

Life

Manuel Zeno Gandía was born the son of wealthy landowners and experienced the difficult working conditions on the farm as a child. After completing his training, he went to Spain, where he obtained his doctorate in medicine and surgery from the University of Barcelona . During his time in Spain he discovered his love for political literature. His political interests made him an advocate for the independence of Puerto Rico.

Upon his return to the island, he opened his medical practice in his hometown of Arecibo. In 1894 he published La Charca (The Pond), Puerto Rico's first serious novel. The story dealt with the hard life in the coffee-growing areas in the distant mountains and the injustices suffered by the poor farm workers against the rich landowners. The naturalistic novel was included as a classic together with Garduña , El Negocio and Redentores in Las Cronicas de un Mundo Enfermo (The Chronicles of a Sick World).

After the invasion of the United States in the Spanish-American War in 1898 , Zeno Gandía traveled to Washington, DC , where he campaigned for the independence of Puerto Rico with Eugenio María de Hostos . However, the US government rejected the plans and declared the island a territory of the United States. After his return, Zeno Gandía continued to work as a writer and political activist until his death in 1930.

A school and several streets are named after him. The government of Puerto Rico ordered a statue to be erected on Paseo de la Coovadonga in 2007 on the site of the Capitol. In his hometown, a credit institute and an industrial plant bear his name.

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personal data
SURNAME Zeno Gandía, Manuel
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Puerto Rican doctor and writer
DATE OF BIRTH January 10, 1855
PLACE OF BIRTH Arecibo , Puerto Rico
DATE OF DEATH 1930
Place of death Santurce , Puerto Rico