What is Augusto Roa Bastos birthday?

Augusto Roa Bastos was born at 1917-06-13

When was Augusto Roa Bastos died?

Augusto Roa Bastos was died at 2005-04-26

Where was Augusto Roa Bastos died?

Augusto Roa Bastos was died in Asunción

Which age was Augusto Roa Bastos died?

Augusto Roa Bastos was died at age 87

Where is Augusto Roa Bastos's birth place?

Augusto Roa Bastos was born in Asunción

What is Augusto Roa Bastos nationalities?

Augusto Roa Bastos's nationalities is Paraguayan

How famous is Augusto Roa Bastos?

Augusto Roa Bastos is famouse as Novelist

Augusto Roa Bastos - Short Story Writers, Timeline and Life

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Personal Details
Photo
Overview
Awards
Timeline
FAQ

Paraguayan Media Personalities Journalists Poets Novelists Short Story Writers Gemini Celebrities

Augusto Roa Bastos's Personal Details

Augusto Roa Bastos is a famous Paraguayan novelist and screenplay writer who is renowned for his book ‘Yo, el Supremo’

Information	Detail
Birthday	June 13, 1917
Died on	April 26, 2005
Nationality	Paraguayan
Famous	Media Personalities, Journalists, Poets, Novelists, Short Story Writers
Known as	Roa Bastos
Birth Place	Asunción
Gender	Male
Sun Sign	Gemini
Born in	Asunción
Famous as	Novelist
Died at Age	87

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Who is Augusto Roa Bastos?

Augusto Roa Bastos enjoyed a reputable career as a journalist, screenwriter, and professor. In his youth, both his mother and uncle exposed him to philosophical literature that would influence his writing. As a teenager, he enlisted in the Chaco War as a hospital orderly. There he witnessed the atrocities of combat and declared himself a pacifist. After the conflict, he became an outspoken dissenter of dictatorship and wrote several articles against two military governments. The results of his writings forced him to live in exile for 29 years. Although his displacement brought him much distress, his writings gained him a nine-month travel fellowship from the British Council. The fellowship allowed him the opportunity to develop program material about Latin America for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). In addition, he acted as a journalist for a Paraguay newspaper. In the evening, he experimented with magical realism, a writing style that fictionalizes events by using metaphorical examples to describe actual settings. At the beginning of his career, the author penned several poems and numerous plays that he never published. However, years later, his publication of, ‘Hijo de hombre’ (Son of Man), earned him admiration and success. Even so, his book ‘Yo, el Supremo’ (I, the Supreme) is considered his masterpiece

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Childhood & Early Life

Augusto Roa Bastos was born on June 13, 1917 in Iturbe Paraguay, the only child of Lucio Roa and Lucia Bastos.

Lucio Roa worked as a manager for a sugar plantation. His son described Lucio as a strict authoritarian, which resulted in the young boy’s resentment of power.

Lucia Bastos enjoyed singing and reading. She was the first to expose her son to William Shakespeare and other influential writers.

In 1925, he lived with his uncle, Hermenegildo Roa, a Catholic priest in Asunción, who paid for his education. Hermenegildo also introduced his nephew to his vast library that contained books from the Enlightenment era.

In 1932, at age 15, he volunteered as a hospital assistant during the Chaco War. His interaction with wounded and dying soldiers moved him deeply and thus, dominated his writing throughout his career.

Career

From 1940 to 1941, Bastos wrote numerous poems and plays. Even though he never published this work, some of his plays did come to life on stage.

In 1942, he published his first book of poetry, ‘El Ruiseñor De La Aurora’ (The Nightingale of Dawn). Later he dismissed the book as an imitation of other writers.

In 1944 while under the British travel fellowship, he studied journalism and wrote for ‘El Pais’, an Asunción paper.

During his stay in Argentina, he penned scripts and adapted his writings for the movie industry. Then in 1947, he became a music publisher and translated Guaraní songs to Spanish.

In 1953, while serving as an attaché for the Argentine government, his collection of short stories thrived with the publication of ‘El trueno entre las hojas’ (Thunder Among the Leaves).

During 1959 to 1964, he wrote the screenplays for, ‘La Boda’, ‘La sangre y la semilla’ and ‘Alias Gardelito’, which contributed to the ‘Nuevo Cine movement’.

By 1960, he published his first major novel, ‘Hijo de hombre’, which earned him an invitation to teach literature at the ‘National University of Rosario’.

The same year, his literature received notoriety outside of Paraguay with the publication of his pamphlet, ‘El naranjal ardiente’ (The Burning Orange Grove).

The publication of ‘Yo, el Supremo’ in 1974 launched Roa Bastos to the forefront of Latin American authors.

From 1976 to 1985, he taught Guaraní and Spanish at the ‘University of Toulouse’, in the South of France. After he retired, the eminent writer continued to teach courses although he remained focused solely on his writing.

Roa Bastos became a renowned member of the Buenos Aires literary circle. The body of his literature encompasses 25 different translations and covers 60 years and several genres.

Major Works

‘Hijo de hombre,' published in 1960, portrays a Christ-like figure who sacrifices his life for the good of the people. Roa Bastos adapted this story into a movie, which earned him critical acclaim and awards.

‘Yo, el Supremo' published in 1974, dramatizes the life of Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia. The book fictionalizes a private journal that notates the daily musings of a dictator, including family stories and historical records.

Awards & Achievements

Although unpublished, his first novel attempt, ‘Fulgencio Miranda’, won the ‘Ateneo Paraguayo Prize’, in 1941.

In 1959, the book ‘Hijo de hombre’ won the ‘Losada’ prize. A year later, the screenplay received an award at the ‘Argentine Instituto de Cinematografia’.

In 1971, he received another fellowship with the ‘Guggenheim Foundation for Creative Arts’.

In 1989, this prolific writer won the ‘Premio Cervantes Prize’ for his entire body of work. He donated his ‘Cervantes’ award money to buy books for the Paraguayan people.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1947, Stroessner took control of Paraguay after a failed coup in which Bastos participated. While in Argentina, the writer described his exile as depressing. Not until the fall of the Stroessner’s government will he return to his homeland.

In 1974, a militarized dictatorship seized Argentina and his novel, ‘Yo, el supremo’, appeared on a list of seditious books.

In 1980, he married his third wife, Iris Gimenéz, a specialist of ancient languages and cultures of Mexico. Iris is the mother of his three children.

The literary genius suffered from a heart attack which eventually became the cause of his death on April 26, 2005 in Asunción, Paraguay.

Trivia

During his time with the British travel fellowship, he interviewed Charles de Gaulle, an opportunity the author notes as one of his prize achievements.

Even though he denounced dictators, in 2003, during his treatment in Cuba for his heart condition, he befriended Fidel Castro.

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Augusto Roa Bastos's awards

Year	Name	Award
Other
0	Miguel de Cervantes Prize - 1990
0	Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts
0	Latin America & Caribbean - 1970

Augusto Roa Bastos biography timelines

// 13th Jun 1917
Augusto Roa Bastos was born on June 13, 1917 in Iturbe Paraguay, the only child of Lucio Roa and Lucia Bastos.
// 1925
In 1925, he lived with his uncle, Hermenegildo Roa, a Catholic priest in Asunción, who paid for his education. Hermenegildo also introduced his nephew to his vast library that contained books from the Enlightenment era.
// 1932
In 1932, at age 15, he volunteered as a hospital assistant during the Chaco War. His interaction with wounded and dying soldiers moved him deeply and thus, dominated his writing throughout his career.
// 1940 To 1941
From 1940 to 1941, Bastos wrote numerous poems and plays. Even though he never published this work, some of his plays did come to life on stage.
// 1941
Although unpublished, his first novel attempt, ‘Fulgencio Miranda’, won the ‘Ateneo Paraguayo Prize’, in 1941.
// 1942
In 1942, he published his first book of poetry, ‘El Ruiseñor De La Aurora’ (The Nightingale of Dawn). Later he dismissed the book as an imitation of other writers.
// 1944
In 1944 while under the British travel fellowship, he studied journalism and wrote for ‘El Pais’, an Asunción paper.
// 1947
During his stay in Argentina, he penned scripts and adapted his writings for the movie industry. Then in 1947, he became a music publisher and translated Guaraní songs to Spanish.
// 1947
In 1947, Stroessner took control of Paraguay after a failed coup in which Bastos participated. While in Argentina, the writer described his exile as depressing. Not until the fall of the Stroessner’s government will he return to his homeland.
// 1953
In 1953, while serving as an attaché for the Argentine government, his collection of short stories thrived with the publication of ‘El trueno entre las hojas’ (Thunder Among the Leaves).
// 1959 To 1964
During 1959 to 1964, he wrote the screenplays for, ‘La Boda’, ‘La sangre y la semilla’ and ‘Alias Gardelito’, which contributed to the ‘Nuevo Cine movement’.
// 1959
In 1959, the book ‘Hijo de hombre’ won the ‘Losada’ prize. A year later, the screenplay received an award at the ‘Argentine Instituto de Cinematografia’.
// 1960
By 1960, he published his first major novel, ‘Hijo de hombre’, which earned him an invitation to teach literature at the ‘National University of Rosario’.
// 1960
‘Hijo de hombre,' published in 1960, portrays a Christ-like figure who sacrifices his life for the good of the people. Roa Bastos adapted this story into a movie, which earned him critical acclaim and awards.
// 1971
In 1971, he received another fellowship with the ‘Guggenheim Foundation for Creative Arts’.
// 1974
The publication of ‘Yo, el Supremo’ in 1974 launched Roa Bastos to the forefront of Latin American authors.
// 1974
‘Yo, el Supremo' published in 1974, dramatizes the life of Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia. The book fictionalizes a private journal that notates the daily musings of a dictator, including family stories and historical records.
// 1974
In 1974, a militarized dictatorship seized Argentina and his novel, ‘Yo, el supremo’, appeared on a list of seditious books.
// 1976 To 1985
From 1976 to 1985, he taught Guaraní and Spanish at the ‘University of Toulouse’, in the South of France. After he retired, the eminent writer continued to teach courses although he remained focused solely on his writing.
// 1980
In 1980, he married his third wife, Iris Gimenéz, a specialist of ancient languages and cultures of Mexico. Iris is the mother of his three children.
// 1989
In 1989, this prolific writer won the ‘Premio Cervantes Prize’ for his entire body of work. He donated his ‘Cervantes’ award money to buy books for the Paraguayan people.
// 2003
Even though he denounced dictators, in 2003, during his treatment in Cuba for his heart condition, he befriended Fidel Castro.
// 26th Apr 2005
The literary genius suffered from a heart attack which eventually became the cause of his death on April 26, 2005 in Asunción, Paraguay.

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Augusto Roa Bastos's FAQ

What is Augusto Roa Bastos birthday?
Augusto Roa Bastos was born at 1917-06-13
When was Augusto Roa Bastos died?
Augusto Roa Bastos was died at 2005-04-26
Where was Augusto Roa Bastos died?
Augusto Roa Bastos was died in Asunción
Which age was Augusto Roa Bastos died?
Augusto Roa Bastos was died at age 87
Where is Augusto Roa Bastos's birth place?
Augusto Roa Bastos was born in Asunción
What is Augusto Roa Bastos nationalities?
Augusto Roa Bastos's nationalities is Paraguayan
What is Augusto Roa Bastos's sun sign?
Augusto Roa Bastos is Gemini
How famous is Augusto Roa Bastos?
Augusto Roa Bastos is famouse as Novelist