Who is Julio Ramón Ribeyro, to whom Google dedicated today's doodle?

Google dedicated today's doodle to Julio Ramón Ribeyro, one of Latin America's most important writers, known for his powerful social criticism.

Who is Julio Ramón Ribeyro, to whom Google dedicated today's doodle?
Peruvian author Julio Ramón Ribeyro. He’s considered one of the greatest Latin American short-story writers of all time. Credit: Google

Today Google dedicated its doodle to Julio Ramón Ribeyro, who today, August 31, would celebrate his 93rd birthday, but who is one of the greatest Peruvian storytellers in Latin America? The Google doodle tribute will be available in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Chile.

Who was Julio Ramón Ribeyro, the Peruvian writer?

Julio Ramón Ribeyro was born in 1929 in Lima Peru, he lived in a middle-class family; however, the untimely death of his father, left the family in poverty. He died on December 4, 1994.

He studied at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, where he studied arts and law. Years later he was awarded a scholarship at the Instituto de Cultura Hispánica, for which he traveled to Spain to study journalism.

Julio Ramón Ribeyro worked as a hotel porter and as a factory operator; with the income from these jobs, he continued the production of his literary texts. In 1958, Ribeyro returned to Peru and began teaching at the National University of San Cristobal de Huamanga. His short stories were characterized by powerful social criticism.

The magazine Correo Bolivariano, published "La vida gris" ("The Gray Life"), Julio Ramón Ribeyro's first short story in 1948; some time later he was awarded a scholarship to the Instituto de Cultura Hispánica in Spain.

In 1955, Julio Ramón Ribeyro published "Los gallinazos sin plumas" ("The featherless hens"), one of his most famous stories, as it was praised by critics for capturing the harsh reality of life in the slums of Peru.

Throughout his life, he published around eight volumes of short stories; as well as some novels, essays, and plays, which have been translated into multiple languages.

Julio Ramón Ribeyro received a national award and was a UNESCO ambassador.

Years after becoming a professor, Julio Ramón Ribeyro published his first novel "Crónica de San Gabriel", which explores life in a rural community in Peru. Thanks to this novel, he was awarded a national prize.

In 1970, Julio Ramón Ribeyro became Peru's cultural advisor and later became an ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In 1994 he won the prestigious Juan Rulfo Prize for Literature.