Argentina has long been known for the high quality of its intellectual life. Modern authors internationally appreciated, like Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortazar and Manuel Puig.

Only after 1820 local writers tried to establish their cultural identity, focusing on both land and men. The indian was the topic of the poem "La Cautiva " (The Captive) (1937) by Esteban Echeverria.

Domingo Faustino Sarmiento attaqued military dictatorship. Nostalgia for the life of the "gaucho" inspired the greatest work in this tradition: "Martin Fierro" which became the national poem.

Late 19th century brought modernism, with exponents such as Ricardo Guiraldes with "Shadows of the Pampas" and Horacio Quiroga's jungle stories.

SOME AUTHORS AND BOOKS
JORGE LUIS BORGES (1899-1986) Shared Formentor Prize with Samuel Beckett in 1961 "FERVOR DE BUENOS AIRES" (1923) "LUNA DE ENFRENTE" (1925) "A UNIVERSAL HISTORY OF INFAMY" (1935) "FICCIONES" (1962) "THE ALEPH" (1949) "DREAMTIGERS" (1960) "THE BOOK OF IMAGINARY BEINGS" (1957) "LABYRINTHS" (1962) "DR. BRODIE'S REPORT" (1970) "THE BOOK OF SAND" (1975)

JULIO CORTAZAR (1914 - 1984) "RAYUELA" (1963) "HOPSCOTCH" (1966) "BESTIARIO" (1951) "END OF THE GAME" (1956) "WE LOVE GLENDA SO MUCH" (1981) "ALL FIRES THE FIRE" (1966) "THE WINNERS" (1960) "A MODEL KIT" (1968) "A CERTAIN LUCAS" (1979)

MANUEL PUIG (1932 - 1990) "BETRAYED BY RITA HAYWORTH" (1968) "THE BUENOS AIRES AFFAIR" (1973) "BLOOD OF REQUITED LOVE" (1982) "PUBIS ANGELICAL" (1979) "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" (1976)