Mercedes Belzú de Dorado

She was born in La Paz, the daughter of Manuel Isidro Belzu and Juana Manuela Gorriti.

She was educated at the college of Damasa Cabezon where she started to express her literary talents.

This was interrupted by political upheaval, which drove her to live in exile for a few years in Arequipa, Peru.

She published extensively during this sojourn, fully participating in the literary life of the city.

Knowledgeable in English and French, she also produced translations of Lamartine, Hugo and Shakespeare.