literature in arequipa has a long tradition and many of the city's writers have gained recognition in peru and internationally. during the spanish colonial period only the works of lorenzo de llamosas have survived. in the nineteenth century, the poetry and fables of mariano melgar are a good reference of the regional literature at the time, with both patriotic and romantic themes. other notable writers of arequipa in that century are: benito bonifaz, jorge polar and maria nieves y bustamante, among others. in the twentieth century, mario vargas llosa is the most recognized of the arequipan writers in peru and abroad, winner of nobel prize in literature in 2010; author of novels like "the green house" (1966), "aunt julia and the scriptwriter" (1977), among others. other writers of the past century who took part of the cultural life of the city were the poets percy gibson, cesar rodriguez atahualpa and oswaldo reynoso.