Rubén Darío, pseudonym of Félix Rubén García Sarmiento, (born Jan. 18, 1867, Metapa, Nic.—died Feb. 6, 1916, León), Nicaraguan poet, journalist, and diplomat. At age 19 he began the travels in Europe and the Americas that would continue throughout his life. The diverse collection Azul (1888), written in an innovative simple, direct style, is his first major work. As a diplomat in Buenos Aires (from 1893), he became the centre of the new Modernismo movement. His Profane Hymns (1896) was influenced by the French Symbolists. As a journalist in Europe he became increasingly concerned with issues of imperialism and nationalism. Songs of Life and Hope (1905) represents the culmination of his technical experimentation and artistic resourcefulness. In addition to his poetry, he wrote about 100 short stories.
