Josefina Vicens

Josefina Vicens (23 November 1911 – 22 November 1988) ––also referred to by her nickname, “La Peque”–– was a Mexican author, screenwriter, and journalist. She is considered to be one of Mexico's seminal women writers. She is best known for her two novels, El libro vacío (‘The empty book;’ published first in Spanish in 1958 and in English in 1992) and Los años falsos (‘The false years;’ first published in Spanish in 1982 and in English in 1989) and for her pioneering contributions to twentieth-century Mexican politics and political thought through her activism and journalism. She also authored several screenplays, many of which were produced and released as widely viewed films. She was born in Villahermosa, Tabasco state but lived most of her adult life in Mexico City. El libro vacio (The Empty Book) was the first Mexican meta-literary novel, using the resources of the "Nouveau Roman". It was awarded the Xavier Villarrutia Prize in 1958. It has recently been selected by the National Commission of Mexico for UNESCO's Literature & Translation project.