Odio, Eunice (1919–1974)

Eunice Odio (b. 18 October 1919; d. 15? March 1974), Costa Rican poet. Overlooked by her compatriots during her lifetime, Odio, a native of San José, was later recognized as one of Costa Rica's greatest poets. Because she lived in several countries, including Guatemala and Mexico, she became a citizen of each. Her work as a journalist appeared in magazines throughout Latin America and France. Odio's books of poetry are Los elementos terrestres (1948), for which she won the Central American "15 de septiembre" prize; Zona en territorio del alba (1953); and El tránsito de fuego (1957); her poetry has been compared to the biblical Song of Songs in its tone and images. Odio also published the essays En defensa del castellano (1972) and Los trabajos de la catedral (1971) and a short story, "El rastro de la mariposa" (1970). She died in Mexico.

See alsoLiterature: Spanish America .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Collections that contain an English translation of "El rastro de la mariposa" are Victoria Urbano, ed., Five Women Writers of Costa Rica (1978).

Enrique Jaramillo Levi, ed., When Flowers Bloomed (1991). Collections of her work include Italo López Vallecillos, ed., Territorio del alba y otras poemas (1974).

Juan Liscano, ed., Antología: Rescate de una gran poeta (1975). Critical studies are Rima De Vallbona, La obra en prosa de Eunice Odio (1980), "Eunice Odio," in Women Writers of Spanish America, edited by Diane Marting (1987), and "Eunice Odio," in Spanish American Women Writers, edited by Diane Marting (1990).

Mario Esquivel Tobar, Eunice Odio en Guatemala (1983).

Additional Bibliography

Chen Sham, Jorge, and Rima de Vallbona, editors. La palabra innumerable: Eunice Odio ante la crítica. San José: Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica, 2001.

                                    Susan E. Clark