MANUEL GONZÁLEZ ZELEDÓN (MAGÓN): BIOGRAPHY AND WORKS - BIOGRAPHIES - 2025

Manuel González Zeledón (1864 –1936) was a writer, journalist, politician and lawyer born in Costa Rica. He had a limited but rich literary career. Additionally, he contributed to the founding of the newspaper El País. He was also a promoter of Costa Rican culture.

As a writer, he adopted the pseudonym 'Magón', based on the initial syllables of his name and his first surname. Later, this nickname is the one that gave its name to the National Prize of Culture in Costa Rica. His works are considered costumbristas, Magón being the initiator of this trend in his country.

Manuel González Zeledón adopted the pseudonym Magón, based on the initial syllables of his name and his first surname. Source: Ministerio de Cultura (1974).

Biography

Birth and childhood

Son of Don Joaquín González and Doña Jesús Zeledón, Magón was born in San José on December 24, 1864. He belonged to the middle class of the Costa Rican capital. His family was modest, but with good relationships in their social environment.

He had two brothers, José and Marcelina. His cousin was the now considered national poet of Costa Rica, Aquileo J. Echeverría. He had a quiet childhood typical of his position.

Training

His first steps in education were taken in the private school of Doña Eusebia Quirós, between 1870 and 1871. There he learned the letters that helped him to read and write moderately, in addition to counting to 100. He also received catechism lessons.

After completing his initial education, he went to a public elementary school from 1871 to 1875. Thanks to his brilliant performance as a student, he was awarded a scholarship to enter the National Institute.

Continuing with his brilliance, he managed to obtain great recognition in his time at the Institute of his teachers. Thanks to the awards won in this period, he obtained the title of lawyer.

Career

In 1880, once he finished these studies and while still young, he had to immediately go to work. The unstable economic position of his family did not allow him otherwise, since he had to contribute to maintaining the home.

He learned much of the legal profession on his own and achieved a notable position in the notarial section of the Lyceum office. Here, he wrote a book entitled Usual Formulas in the Notary Practice, which became an official reference for his colleagues.

With his trip to Colombia, in 1889, he formally began his time in politics. He resided in Bogotá for two and a half years, where he was appointed vice consul. Upon returning, in 1892, he was presented with the Senior Officials Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he accepted and left shortly after.

He opened his own office as a lawyer, which was very successful, as he handled cases of renowned business houses. In 1895 he was elected as a deputy to Congress as a figure opposed to the government. This led him to found the opposition newspaper El País in 1900.

Among some of the positions and titles that he held, shortly before leaving Costa Rica and later when settling in New York, the following stand out:

- Commissioner General of Costa Rica for the International Exhibition of San Luis in 1904.

- Founder and reelected president for 4 years of the Hispanic Literary Circle since 1910.

- Honorary President of the Spanish Charity Union.

- Consul General of Costa Rica, ad honorem, from 1910 to 1915.

- Inspector General of Consulates of Costa Rica in the United States, ad honorem, in 1924.

- Charge d'affaires ad interim of the Legation of Costa Rica in Washington, in 1932.

- Resident Minister, in 1934.

Death and impact

Manuel González Zeledón returned to San José, Costa Rica, in 1936 when he was still serving as Minister, after 30 years of absence. He arrived in the country on May 16, seriously ill. He died shortly after, on the 29th of the same month, at the age of 71.

During his lifetime he founded and animated multiple cultural, diplomatic and commercial groups. He entered politics with successes and failures. He wrote multiple articles of various kinds and works of narration. He served as an educator in Costa Rica and New York.

On October 29, 1953, the decree that entitled it Benemérito de las Letras Patrias was issued. On November 24, 1961, the Magón National Prize for Culture was created.

Plays

Beginning of writing

Framed within the realist era, Magón, the writer, emerges. On December 24, 1895, Manuel González Zeledón published his first literary work through the costumbrista chronicle. This is done in the newspaper La Patria, by Aquileo J. Echeverría, however, it passes to others later.

He was greatly influenced by the adventures of his childhood, his family, home and friends, as well as the experiences that he came to experience first in his education and then in the office where he began his professional life.

Style and theme

Regarding his work, beyond the other articles that he could write, the costumbrist paintings stand out. These focus on the behaviors that make a people, such as folklore and the different customs of the day to day. That is why his narratives take place in routines like domestic assets.

The predominant setting in his works is the city, with little participation from rural areas. The narrator is usually an adult, with some exceptions of the intervention of the child Magon. Sometimes this narrator is omniscient, although the use of the narrator as an observer prevails.

These are some of his most popular literary works:

Novels

La Propia, 1909 (story).

Stories

The clis de sol, 1871.

Clear Things, 1925.

Pictures of customs

Christmas Eve, 1895.

A bath in the dam, 1896.

Two musicians, 1896.

A market day in the Plaza Principal, 1896.

A couple of boyfriends, 1896.

A Work of Mercy, 1896.

Camañuelas, 1896.

Do you want to stay for lunch?, 1896.

My first job, 1896.

A picnic lunch, 1896.

A Candle, 1896.

A bath in the dam, 1896.

Al baratillo, 1896.

The Doll of the Child God, 1898.

The Tequendama, 1898.

November 2, 1900.

The Franco-Prussian War, 1910.

The mozotillo de Pochet, 1913.

For justice, time, 1919.

Everything Happens, 1924.

What time is it?, 1925.

Fifteen to ten, 1925.

Semper Fidelis, 1925.

Cocoa of the year, 1933.

The two o'clock train, 1933.

Test

Ode to Costa Rica, 1929.

References

1. Aguirre, Carlos E. "Importance and meaning of Magón's tales", Letters 18-19, University of Costa Rica, San José, 1988.
2. Arce, José M. "Manuel González Zeledón: Life and Work." Revista Hispánica Moderna, vol. 12, no. 3/4, 1946.
3. Arce, José M. "Cuentos de Magón, collection of Central American authors." Lehmann Printing House, San José, 1968.
4. González Zeledón, Manuel. La Propia in "Tales of Costa Rica", Antonio Lehmann, San José, 1967.
5. Sandoval De Fonseca, Virginia. “Manuel González Zeledón”. Ministry of Culture, San José, 1974.