Carlos Fuentes

Carlos Fuentes (1928-2012) is one of the primary and most renowned writers of the Generation of the “Boom” (1962) who, in part, promoted Magical Realism (lo real maravilloso). His distinct tendencies are: historicity, temporal and spatial transpositions, cultural simultaneity, political and social commentary; stylistic and structural innovation and experimentation. He fuses verosimilitud with what appears to be highly experimental innovation, especially in his early period. Above all, he is both a quintessentially Mexican writer and a writer of universal values and influence. He is widely known in the United States, where he has taught at the following universities, among others: Washington University in St. Louis, and the universities of Princeton, Harvard, Pennsylvania, and Columbia. Among countless lectures, he has spoken at the University of North Florida and the University of Florida, and, at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, he gave a major address upon the occasion of the release of the movie based on his novel Old Gringo (1985) with Jane Fonda and Gregory Peck.

(Note: Bold type represents universal masterpieces.)

1928 Carlos Fuentes Macías was born in Panama City, Panamá; his father, Alex Fuentes, was a Mexican diplomat in that city and others.
Because of his father’s profession he spent his childhood in a number of world capitals including Washington, D.C.
1940-1965 He lived mostly in Mexico City, where he got a law degree.
1958 His novel La region más transparente was published.
1959-1973 He was married to Rita Macedo, a Mexican actress: they divorced due to his incessant womanizing.
1961 His novel Aura was published.
1962 Cecilia Fuentes Macedo, his daughter, was born. She is a Mexican TV producer.
His most famous novel La muerte de Artemio Cruz was published. This novel placed him squarely in the Generation of the Boom.
1965-1978 He served as a Mexican diplomat to London, Paris, and other world capitals.
1968 His screenplay for the film major Mexican film Pedro Páramo was written.
1969 His book of literary criticism La nueva novella latinoamericana was published.
1973 His collection of short stories Chac mool y otros cuentos was published.
1975-present He is married to Silvia Lemus de Fuentes, who originally was from Galicia, Spain. She is TV journalist on a program Tratos y Retratos .
His monumental baroque-style novel Terra nostra was published.
1976 His book of literary criticism Miguel Cervantes o la crítica de la lectura was published.
1978 His political spy novel La cabeza de la hidra was published.
1982 His play Orquídeas a la luz de la luna (comedia mexicana) was published.
1985 His novel Gringo viejo was published.
1987 His monumental novel Cristóbal nonato was published.
1992 His book of cultural criticism El espejo enterrado/The Buried Mirror: Reflection on Spain and the New World was published.
2000 His book of essays Los cinco soles de México: memoria de un milenio was published.
2008 English language biography titled
For a wonderful photo of Carlos Fuentes with García Márquez with in 2008, see: => FIL.
His novel La voluntad y la fortuna was published.
2010 Collection of eight short stories (cuentos/relatos), Carolina Grau. Published in Mexico by Alfaguara.
2011 For a fine popular article about Fuentes as a person, see: AARPVIVA, Spring 2011, pp. 12-17 (aarp.org/viva). For photos of him accompanying this article, see: AARP 2011.
2012 (May 15) Death of Carlos Fuentes. For an excellent article in the New York Times about him and his death, see: => Anthony DePalma on Fuentes.

Selected Resource Books:

Abeyta, Michael. Fuentes, Terra nostra, and the reconfiguration of Latin American culture, 2006
Bloom, Harold. Carlos Fuentes' The death of Artemio Cruz (Modern Critical Interpretations), 2006
Boldy, Steven. The narrative of Carlos Fuentes : family, text, nation, 2002
Helmuth, Chalene. The postmodern Fuentes, 1997
Penn, Sheldon. Carlos Fuentes's Terra nostra and the Kabbalah: the recreation of the Hispanic world, 2003
Van Delden, Maarten. Carlos Fuentes, Mexico and modernity, 1998
Williams, Raymond L. The writings of Carlos Fuentes, 1996