Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo (modernism) that flourished at the end of the 19th century.

Ruben Dario was born Felix Ruben Garcia Sarmiento, in San Pedro de Metapa on 1867, By age 12, Ruben Dario was the established poet of his Nicaraguan birthplace, and by age 16, he was known all over Central America. His writing did much for the developement of modern poetry in both Spain and Latin America, Dario was also a journalist and a diplomat. Much of Dario`s work, and Latin American modernismo in genre, can be seen as influenced by three European movements, Romanticism, Parnassianism, and the symbolist movement. Ruben`s first collection of poetry, Azul, was published in 1888 while he was living in Chile. It won him world wide recognition.Dario was the established poet of his Nicaraguan birthplace, and by age 16, he was known all over Central America.

His writing did much for the developement of modern poetry in both Spain and Latin America, Dario was also a journalist and a diplomat.

Much of Dario`s work, and Latin American modernismo in genre, can be seen as influenced by three European movements, Romanticism, Parnassianism, and the symbolist movement.

Ruben`s first collection of poetry, Azul, was published in 1888 while he was living in Chile. It won him world wide recognition. 

In Argentina he wrote for La Nacion and in 1896 published Los Raros and Prosas Profanas, which won over important critics to an appreciation of modernism. His later books of poetry, Cantos de Vida y Esperanza, El Canto Errante, Poema del Otono and Canto a la Argentina, strengthened his reputation. Poema del Otono, written in 1910, is often considered Darío`s finest piece.

In one of the publications called Songs of Life and Hope, concerns issues such as the defeat of Spain in the Spanish-American War, North American imperialism and the solidarity of Spanish-speaking peoples.

Many Spanish American writers came to be regarded as modernists, but it is Darío`s work that encompasses all the characteristics that define the movement.