El payador

Leopoldo Lugones (1874-1938), one of Argentina's most influential literary figures, navigated a complex trajectory from modernista poet and anarchist to nationalist and later fascist. Despite his controversial political evolution, his work profoundly shaped Argentine literature and national identity.

Published in 1916, El Payador compiles a series of highly acclaimed lectures Lugones delivered in Buenos Aires in 1913. These conferences, attended by the Argentine elite and political leadership, centered on José Hernández's epic poem Martín Fierro. Lugones's insightful analysis rescued Martín Fierro from obscurity, elevating it to the status of a “Homeric Tale of Argentine Culture” and positioning the gaucho as the “hero and civilizer of the Pampas.”

The book addresses the enduring debate over whether Martín Fierro or Güiraldes's Don Segundo Sombra should be considered the quintessential Argentine gaucho archetype. Lugones's work is a profound exploration of Argentine national identity, rooted in the figure of the gaucho—a symbol of boundless freedom. He laments the disappearance of this figure as industry and foreign commerce encroached upon the vast, open pampa, transforming it into parceled private property.

El Payador is also a testament to Lugones's meticulous linguistic scholarship, exploring the etymology and significance of terms like "payador" and "payada" (troubadour and poetic duel). His work champions the purity of the Spanish language against barbarisms and foreignisms, reflecting his deep-seated belief that a nation's language is the foundation of its people and identity.

This Stockcero edition faithfully reproduces the 1916 original, enhanced with 260 new lexicographical notes that complement the author's own reflections. It includes the musical scores from the original lectures, offering a comprehensive and essential resource for students of South American literature and Argentine cultural studies. It continues the vital discussion on the gaucho's enduring legacy.