Alberto Blest Gana

Alberto Blest Gana finished top of his class at a Military Academy in France. He served as a liberal governor of the province of Colchagua and from 1866 was diplomatic representative of Chile in Washington, London, and Paris. His achievements include the incorporation of Chile to the Postal Union and the purchase of weapons for Chilean troops during the War of the Pacific. He also participated in the negotiation of the border with Argentina. His literary work is marked by aesthetic and thematic ideals of European realism. His prominent works include Martín Rivas, El ideal de un Calavera, and Durante la Reconquista.