Carlos Fuentes

Carlos Fuentes Macías was a famous Mexican writer, known for his novels, essays, and his time as an ambassador to France. He was born on November 11, 1928, and passed away on May 15, 2012.

Fuentes wrote many important books, including The Death of Artemio Cruz, Aura, Terra Nostra, The Old Gringo, and Christopher Unborn. His work helped shape Latin American literature during a special time called the Latin American Boom in the 1960s and 1970s.

Many people admired his writing. The New York Times called him one of the most respected writers in the Spanish-speaking world, and The Guardian said he was Mexico's most celebrated novelist. Fuentes received many awards for his work, including the Miguel de Cervantes Prize and Mexico's highest honor, the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor. Some even thought he might win the Nobel Prize in Literature, but he never did.

Life and career

Carlos Fuentes was born in Panama City and grew up moving between many Latin American cities because of his father's job as a diplomat. This helped him see his home region from a unique perspective. He learned to speak English well while living in Washington, D.C. from 1934 to 1940, and he began writing stories during that time.

Fuentes studied law in Mexico City and later worked for a newspaper. In 1958, he became famous with his book Where the Air Is Clear, allowing him to focus on writing full-time. He lived in Havana after the Cuban Revolution and wrote articles supporting the new government. Fuentes also served as Mexico's ambassador to France and taught at many famous universities around the world. He was good friends with well-known writers and thinkers.

Writing

Carlos Fuentes was called "the Balzac of Mexico." He looked up to writers like Miguel de Cervantes, William Faulkner, and Balzac as major influences. He was also inspired by Latin American writers such as Alejo Carpentier, Juan Carlos Onetti, Miguel Angel Asturias, and Jorge Luis Borges. European modernists like James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and Marcel Proust also shaped his writing, especially when he explored Mexican history and identity.

Fuentes' first novel, Where the Air Is Clear, became successful when it was published in 1958. The story follows a man who left his revolutionary past to become a powerful businessman, while also showing many scenes from Mexico City. In 1962, he published The Death of Artemio Cruz, which is seen as a very important work in modern Spanish American literature. The book tells the story of a man looking back on his life as he is about to die. Fuentes wrote many other famous books, including Aura, Terra Nostra, and The Old Gringo. His works have been translated into 24 languages.

Political views

The Los Angeles Times described Carlos Fuentes as having "moderate liberal" politics. He spoke out against what he saw as problems on both the left and the right.

Fuentes often criticized the government of Mexico and later spoke about the need to reduce violence related to drugs. He showed support for a group of rebels in Chiapas. He also questioned some decisions made by leaders of the United States, including Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

Because of his views, Fuentes had trouble getting permission to visit the United States for many years. Even groups in the United States kept close watch on his activities during the 1960s.

At first, Fuentes supported changes in Cuba, but later changed his mind about its leader. He also later spoke out against the leader of Venezuela.

In his final message online, Fuentes wrote that there must be something better than fighting and harshness to support people around the world, and that everyone should help find it.

Death

On May 15, 2012, the writer Carlos Fuentes passed away in a hospital in Mexico City after collapsing at his home. Many important people shared their thoughts about him. The Mexican President Felipe Calderón expressed sadness, and Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa said Fuentes left a big mark with his work. A special funeral service was held the next day, attended by the president and others.

List of works

Novels

• La región más transparente (Where the Air Is Clear) (1958)
• Las buenas conciencias (The Good Conscience) (1961)
• Aura (1962)
• La muerte de Artemio Cruz (The Death of Artemio Cruz) (1962)
• Cambio de piel (A Change of Skin) (1967)
• Zona sagrada (Holy Place) (1967)
• Cumpleaños (Birthday) (1969)
• Terra Nostra (1975)
• La cabeza de la hidra (The Hydra Head) (1978)
• Una familia lejana (Distant Relations) (1980)
• Gringo viejo (The Old Gringo) (1985)
• Cristóbal Nonato (Christopher Unborn) (1987)
• Ceremonias del alba (1991)
• La campaña (The Campaign) (1992)
• Diana o la cazadora solitaria (Diana: the Goddess Who Hunts Alone) (1995)
• La frontera de cristal (The Crystal Frontier: A Novel of Nine Stories) (1996)
• Los años con Laura Díaz (The Years With Laura Diaz) (1999)
• Instinto de Inez (Inez) (2001)
• La silla del águila (The Eagle's Throne) (2002)
• Todas las familias felices (Happy Families) (2006)
• La voluntad y la fortuna (Destiny and Desire) (2008)
• Adán en Edén (2009)
• Vlad (2010)
• Federico en su Balcón (2012)
• Aquiles o el guerrillero y el asesino (2016)

Short stories

• Los días enmascarados (1954)
• Cantar de ciegos (1964)
• Chac Mool y otros cuentos (1973)
• Agua quemada (Burnt Water) (1983)
• Constancia and other Stories For Virgins (1990)
• Dos educaciones (1991)
• El naranjo (The Orange Tree) (1994)
• Inquieta compañía (2004)
• Happy Families (2008)
• Las dos Elenas (1964)
• El hijo de Andrés Aparicio

Essays

• La nueva novela hispanoamericana (1969)
• El mundo de José Luis Cuevas (1969)
• Casa con dos puertas (1970)
• Tiempo mexicano (1971)
• Miguel de Cervantes o la crítica de la lectura (1976)
• Myself With Others (1988)
• El Espejo Enterrado (The Buried Mirror: Reflections on Spain and the New World) (1992)
• Geografía de la novela (1993)
• Tres discursos para dos aldeas
• Nuevo tiempo mexicano (A New Time for Mexico) (1995)
• Retratos en el tiempo, with Carlos Fuentes Lemus (2000)
• Los cinco soles de México: memoria de un milenio (2000)
• En esto creo (2002)
• Contra Bush (2004)
• Los 68 (2005)
• Personas (2012)

Theater

• Todos los gatos son pardos (1970)
• El tuerto es rey (1970)
• Los reinos originarios: teatro hispano-mexicano (1971)
• Orquídeas a la luz de la luna. Comedia mexicana. (1982)
• Ceremonias del alba (1990)

Screenplays

• ¿No oyes ladrar los perros? (1974)
• Pedro Páramo (1967)
• Los caifanes
• Un alma pura (1965)
• Tiempo de morir (1965)
• Las dos Elenas (1964)
• El gallo de oro (1964)

Reviews

There was a review of a book called Burnt Water written by someone named McCabe in 1981. The review appeared in a magazine named Cencrastus.

Awards and recognition

Carlos Fuentes received many awards for his writing and contributions to literature. Some of the notable ones include the 1967 Biblioteca Breve Award for A Change of Skin, the 1972 membership in the Colegio Nacional, and the 1976 Xavier Villaurrutia Award for Terra Nostra. He was also honored with the 1984 Mexican National Prize for Arts and Sciences and the 1987 Miguel de Cervantes Prize. Additionally, Fuentes received honorary doctorates from prestigious universities such as Harvard University and the University of Cambridge. His international recognition includes awards from France, Chile, and Spain, among others.