José Hernández

Born in 1834 in Argentina, José Hernández became a journalist, poet, and politician whose writing was closely tied to the social and political struggles of his time. He is remembered above all for Martín Fierro and its sequel, works that became classics of gaucho literature and are often seen as central to Argentina’s literary identity.

Hernández wrote with sympathy for the gauchos, the horsemen of the pampas, and gave voice to people who were often pushed aside by the state and elite society. His verse combines vivid storytelling with protest, humor, and a strong sense of justice, which is one reason it has remained widely read long after his death in 1886.

Beyond poetry, he was active in public life as a journalist and politician. That mix of literature and civic engagement gives his work much of its force: it feels both personal and national, rooted in lived experience while helping shape how Argentina imagined itself.