Miguel Angel AsturiasAwards:
Nobel Prize in Literature-1967, Lenin Peace Prize-1966Nobel Committee
in its citation stated that the prize was given for
"his vivid literary
achievement, deep-rooted in the national traits and traditions of
Indian people of Latin America. "
Born: 19/10/1899 in Guatemala City,
Guatemala, Central America.
Died: 09/06/1974 in Madrid, Spain.
Buried at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
Citizen: Guatemalan
Language: Spanish
Miguel Angel Asturias Rosales was born in a well to do family in
Guatemala city. His father was a lawyer and judge and mother was a
school teacher. Asturias Sr. opposed Dictatorship and during the rule
of
Manuel Estrada Cabrera, he
lost his job in 1904 when he ordered release of some students arrested
for causing disturbances. In 1905, Miguel moved to Salama when he came
in explicit contact of indigenous people and learned their customs and
habits and folklores.
He
graduated in Law in 1923 securing the top position in Universidad de
San Carlos de Guatemala. He moved to Europe the same year and studied
Ethnology in Sorbonne University, Paris. While in Paris, he came under
the influence of Surrealist poet Andre Breton. His first novel,Leyendas
de Guatemala.(Legends
of Guatemala),
was published in 1930 and he translated the novel to French for which
he received
Sylla Monsegur Prize
in 1932.
In 1933, he returned to Guatemala and stayed there till 1944. During
this period, he wrote poetry and the collection was published in a
book form,
Sien de alondra in
1949. He also opposed the rule of the dictator Jorge Ubico . His
novel,
El Señor Presidente,
was written during this period but could not be published due to
polical censorship. It was finally published in 1946. His novel,
Men of Maize,
was published in 1949 when he was Ambassador to Mexico.
Asturias was greatly inspired by the Maya culture of Central America.
It is an overarching theme in many of his works and greatly influenced
the style of this writing.
Notable Works:
El Señor Presidente
-- The President(1946/),Hombres
de maíz --
Men of Maize (1949/),Banana
Trilogy:
Viento fuerte-
Strong Wind
(/1950) ,El
Papa Verde
-- The Green Pope(/1954),
Los ojos de los enterrados-- The Eyes of
the Interred(1960),
Mulata de tal-- The Mulatta and Mr. Fly(1963/1963),
Cyclone--
Cyclone(/1967),
Order Miguel Angel
Asturias's Books below
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