Considered one of the most recognized figures in contemporary Spanish-language literature, Peruvian writer Alfredo Bryce Echenique passed away at the age of 87 on Tuesday.
The news became known just a few minutes ago.
Alvaro Vargas Llosa, son of the late Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, expressed sorrow through his X social media account.
"I share with you my enormous sorrow over the passing of Alfredo Bryce Echenique, one of the great Peruvian writers and of the Spanish language in recent decades. To his readers and relatives, my most heartfelt condolences. His work will outlive him, without any doubt," he wrote.
Meanwhile, La Casa de la Literatura Peruana (The House of Peruvian Literature) issued a statement following the passing of the man of letters.
"We deeply lament the passing of the Peruvian writer Alfredo Bryce Echenique, one of the most representative voices in contemporary Peruvian literature. His work, which includes novels, short stories, essays, and memoirs, left a significant mark on several generations of readers," it stated on X.
For writer Alonso Cueto, one of the late author's closest friends, "Alfredo made us discover a part of Peru and of ourselves that had to do with the great secrets families kept, that very Limeño aspect."
Cueto said Bryce should be remembered as "someone who found in humor a way to understand reality. For him, laughter was something fundamental. For me, above all, he was a great friend and inspiration."
"He revered friendship. We had a group and would get together for lunch frequently. And now there are his books and legacy to make life something enriching for those of us who remain."
"He decided to live here. He could have stayed in Spain, but his words and affections were here. And he chose to be with all the people who loved him," Cueto concluded.
Peruvian writer Jorge Eduardo Benavides also confirmed Bryce's passing.
"This morning, our very dear friend Alfredo Bryce Echenique left us," he expressed.
"He was not only a truly great writer, with an absolutely personal, precise, and refined style, full of delightful discoveries that helped shape an immense narrative world; he was also a great person, a loyal and affectionate friend, full of gestures and kindness," Benavides said.
In turn, the Ministry of Culture expressed its condolences on its official social media account, lamenting the writer's passing and highlighting his vast body of work.
About Alfredo Bryce
Alfredo Bryce Echenique was born in Lima on February 19, 1939.
He studied at the Lima-based National University of San Marcos (UNMSM), rose to prominence after receiving an honorable mention in the 1968 Casa de las Americas Prize short story competition with his collection "Huerto Cerrado" (A Closed Garden).
In addition to being the author of novels, short stories, essays, and memoirs, Bryce was part of a trio of major contemporary Peruvian writers, alongside Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Mario Vargas Llosa and storyteller Julio Ramon Ribeyro.
The three are regarded as the leading narrators of the second half of the 20th century in Peru and among the most prominent in Latin America.
Recognized for his vast body of work, it was his first novel, "Un mundo para Julius" (A World for Julius) in 1970 that came to be considered one of the fundamental works of 20th-century Latin American narrative.
Among his literary works, some of the most notable titles include "La vida exagerada de Martín Romaña" (The Exaggerated Life of Martin Romaña), "El hombre que hablaba de Octavia de Cádiz" (The Man Who Spoke About Octavia De Cadiz), and "No me esperen en abril" (Don't Wait for Me In April).
Bryce received numerous honors during his lifetime, one of the most important in 2012 when he won the FIL Literature Award in Romance Languages, one of the most important literary distinctions in the Spanish-speaking world.
(END) CFS/MVB
Publicado: 10/3/2026