Silvina Ocampo
In the nation that gave birth to such literary giants as Borges and Cortazar, female writers sometimes seem to be overlooked, especially in the eyes of foreigners.
When you study Spanish in Argentina, don’t neglect to explore the rich legacy of women writers and feminism in this country. One great place to start is that the Librería de Mujeres, a small bookshop dedicated exclusively to women writers and women’s issues. The shop is tucked away in the heart of Buenos Aires in the region known as microcentro.
If you’re interested in learning more about a female Argentine writer, the most famous one is Victoria Ocampo. A passionate proponent of rights for women and intellectual freedom for all, Ocampo was an important dissident voice during the rule of President Juan Domingo Perón. She is best known as the founder of the literary journal Sur, which often published works by her contemporaries Cortazar and Borges.
Silvina Ocampo, Victoria’s younger sister, was also a talented writer in her own right. Her works are similar to those of Borges in that they include an element of the fantastic. Today we might call them magical realism.