Augusto Roa Bastos

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.

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.

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).

‘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.