Carlos Fuentes is one of those rare writers who, by the
sheer power of literary art, has defined the cultural,
emotional, and hereditary identity of an entire continent.
A novelist, essayist, scholar and diplomat, he is recognized
worldwide as one of the greatest literary and political
figures of the Spanish-speaking world.
Fuentes’ novels (including the classics Terra Nostra, The
Death of Artemio Cruz and the New York Times bestseller,
The Old Gringo) look deeply into the identity of Latin
America, its internal conflicts with its triplicate lineage
(Native American, African, and Spanish) and its contentious
relationship with the superpower to the north.
In his essays and nonfiction work (including The Buried Mirror, which was made into
a TV series for the Discovery Channel), he seeks to reclaim that identity and
celebrate the rich contributions of Hispanic culture. Says Fuentes, “Culture is the
product of many races and many traditions. We are all descendants of Greeks and
Romans, Arabs and Jews. We must examine those roots to discover who we are
today.”
The scope and power of his work is undeniable. He was the leading figure of Latin
America’s literary “boom” of the 1960’s and 70’s and has garnered some of the most
prestigious literary awards in the world, including: the National Prize in Literature,
Mexico’s greatest literary award; and the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the highest
honor for a Spanish-language writer. He also was awarded France’s Legion of Honor
(regarded internationally as the highest honor given to civilians) and was the first
ever recipient of the Latin Civilization Award, presented by the Presidents of Brazil,
Mexico and France.
Free of ideology and party lines, Fuentes is an independent political voice with an
instinct for social justice. The son of a Mexican diplomat, he spent most of his
childhood in Washington, D.C. After earning his law degree, he served as a
government official in many capacities, including Director of International Cultural
Relations for Mexico’s Ministry of Exterior Relations and the Mexican Ambassador to
France.
Fuentes inaugurated the Robert F. Kennedy Chair in Latin American Studies at
Harvard and was the Simon Bolivar Professor at Cambridge. He has been a visiting
professor at Princeton and is currently Professor at Large at Brown University.
Fuentes is often asked to do readings from his works. The Old Gringo (the first ever
U.S. bestseller by a Mexican author) was made into a film starring Jane Fonda and
Gregory Peck. His more recent books include Inez, The Years With Laura Diaz and his
latest novel, The Eagle’s Throne. His next book is In This I Believe, an A to Z essay
on his personal convictions.