Enrique Lafourcade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Enrique Lafourcade
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| Born |
Enrique Eduardo Lafourcade Valdenegro
October 14, 1927 |
| Died | July 29, 2019 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | Chilean |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist |
| Spouse(s) | Marta Blanco |
Enrique Eduardo Lafourcade Valdenegro (born October 14, 1927 – died July 29, 2019) was a famous Chilean writer, critic, and journalist. He was born in Santiago, Chile.
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About Enrique Lafourcade
Enrique Lafourcade was an important writer in Chile. He was part of a group of authors called the "Generation of the 50s." This name was suggested by Lafourcade himself in 1954. It described writers born between 1920 and 1934. These authors started writing in new ways during the 1950s. Their style was different from older regional writing.
Lafourcade was also part of the "Latin American Boom." This was a time in the mid-20th century when many amazing books came out of Latin America. Famous writers like Gabriel García Márquez and Pablo Neruda were also part of this boom.
Lafourcade's Books
Enrique Lafourcade wrote many books. He published at least 24 novels. He also wrote more than a dozen collections of short stories and essays.
His most famous novel is Palomita Blanca (which means "Little White Dove"). It was published in 1971. This book sold over a million copies in Chile. This made it one of the best-selling books ever in the country. Palomita Blanca was translated into many languages. It was also made into a movie by a Chilean-French director named Raúl Ruiz.
Lafourcade's last novel was El Inesperado (The Unexpected). It came out in 2004. This book imagined the life of a French poet named Arthur Rimbaud in Africa. Lafourcade did three years of research for this book. It was launched on October 20, 2004. This was 150 years after Rimbaud's birth.
Other Novels by Lafourcade
Here are some other books written by Enrique Lafourcade:
- Pena de Muerte (1952)
- Para Subir al Cielo (1959)
- la Fiesta del Rey Acab (1959)
- El principe y las Ovejas (1961)
- Invencion a Dos Voces (1963)
- Novela de Navidad (1965)
- Pronombres Personales (1967)
- Frecuencia Modulada (1968)
- En el Fondo (1973)
- Salvador Allende (1973)
- Variaciones sobre el tema de Nastasia Filippovna y el Principe Mishkin (1974)
- Tres Terroristas (1977)
- Buddha y los Chocolates Envenenados (1977)
- Adios al Führer (1982)
- El Gran Taimado (1984)
- Los Hijos del Arco Iris (1985)
- Las Senales van Hacia el Sur (1988)
- Pepita de Oro (1989)
- Hoy Esta Solo mi Corazon (1990)
- Mano Bendita (1993)
- Cristianas Viejas y Limpias (1997)
Lafourcade won several literary awards in Chile. These included the Municipal Prize and the Gabriela Mistral Prize. He also received the Maria Luisa Bombal Prize for the best novel of the year.
Lafourcade as a Journalist
Enrique Lafourcade was very well known as a journalist and critic. He called himself "a sentimental anarchist." For many years, he wrote articles for El Mercurio. This is the largest newspaper in Chile. He mostly wrote about literature. But he also wrote about politics and cultural topics.
His articles were often very direct and sometimes sarcastic. Some of his writings made politicians unhappy. This caused problems with the authorities. For example, his bookstore was once entered by force. All copies of his book “El Taimado” (The Stubborn Man) were taken away. This book was a satire about the Chilean leader at the time.
Lafourcade also appeared on many television shows. He was a guest or part of cultural critic panels. His funny and sometimes bold way of sharing his opinions caused a lot of discussion in Chile. Because of this, "Lafourcade" became a very well-known name. There are many stories about him, including one where he got into a fight with another journalist on live TV.
For a while, he wrote food reviews. He used the name "Conde de Lafourchette" (Count of the Fork). He gave his honest opinions about restaurants and their food. Restaurant owners were said to be afraid of him. Waiters were told to call the owner as soon as they saw him walk in.
Lafourcade often said he was an "unrelenting enemy of ignorance and incompetence." He was believed to have as many enemies as he had friends. There were even rumors that some people wanted to "expel Lafourcade from Chile."
Lafourcade's Family Life
Enrique Lafourcade was married three times. He had a long relationship with writer Marta Blanco. They lived together for seven years. He was a father to three children: Dominique (born 1954), Octavio (born 1955, died 2019), and Nicole (born 1974).
Lafourcade's family has continued his legacy in writing and music. His son Octavio was a classical musician. His daughter Nicole is a poet and translator. His brother, Gaston Lafourcade, is a musician and teacher. His niece, Natalia Lafourcade, is a famous singer and composer from Mexico. She has won Grammy Awards. His granddaughter, Colomba Braña Lafourcade, is a Chilean-American singer and activist.
Additional sources
- "Memoria Chilena: Portal de la Cultura de Chile"
- Archives of El Mercurio (paper form)
- Letralia
- Escritores y Poetas en Español (Archived version: Letras)
See also
In Spanish: Enrique Lafourcade para niños
