Félix Luna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Félix Luna
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Luna in 1976
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| Born |
Félix César Luna
30 September 1925 |
| Died | 5 November 2009 (aged 84) Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Nationality | Argentine |
| Alma mater | University of Buenos Aires |
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Félix César Luna (born September 30, 1925 – died November 5, 2009) was a very important Argentine writer, historian, and lyricist. He was famous for making history exciting and for writing lyrics for popular songs. He helped many people learn about Argentina's past through his books and music.
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Life and Early Career
Félix Luna was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1925. His family came from La Rioja. His grandfather helped start a political party called the Radical Civic Union (UCR). His uncle, Pelagio Luna, was even the Vice President of Argentina from 1916 to 1919.
Félix Luna studied law at the University of Buenos Aires and finished his degree in 1951. His first book, Yrigoyen, came out in 1954. It was a biography about a former president.
After a change in government in 1955, Luna worked for the Ministry of Labor. In 1957, he won his first writing award for La fusilación (The Firing Squad). This story was set in the 1800s but also touched on a controversial event from 1956. He then wrote another biography in 1958 about Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear.
Teaching and Historical Works
Félix Luna taught history at the University of Buenos Aires from 1963 to 1976. He also taught at the private University of Belgrano from 1967 to 1986. During this time, he wrote some of his most famous history books.
Some of his well-known books include:
- Los caudillos (1966): This book looked at powerful local leaders in Argentina during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- El 45 (1968): This book focused on the important year 1945 in Argentina's history.
- Argentina: de Perón a Lanusse (1973): This book covered the period from 1945 to 1973.
Luna was known for his clear and engaging way of writing history. He made complex events easier to understand.
Music and Collaborations
Félix Luna also had a talent for writing song lyrics. He worked with the famous pianist and composer Ariel Ramírez. Together, they created the Misa Criolla (Creole Mass) in 1964. This was a very successful musical work.
Their next big project was Mujeres Argentinas (Argentine Women) in 1969. One of the songs from this album, Alfonsina y el mar, became especially famous. It was a beautiful song about the poet Alfonsina Storni.
In 1972, Luna and Ramírez teamed up with the legendary folk singer Mercedes Sosa. They created the album Cantata Sudamericana. This album helped make Mercedes Sosa a huge star in Argentine music.
Later Life and Legacy
Félix Luna also shared his knowledge through other media. He wrote weekly articles for the newspaper Clarín from 1964 to 1973. He also hosted a radio show called Hilando nuestra historia (Weaving Our History) from 1977 to 1982.
He continued to write many books, including biographies of presidents like Roberto Ortiz (1978) and Julio Roca (1989). His book Breve historia de los argentinos (Brief History of the Argentines, 1993) was a popular short history of the country.
In 1967, Luna started his own Argentine history magazine called Todo es Historia (Everything is History). He was the director of this magazine until he passed away.
Félix Luna received many honors for his work. He won several Konex Awards, which are top cultural awards in Argentina. He also received a French award, the Ordre national du Mérite, in 1988. From 1986 to 1989, he served as the Secretary of Culture for the city of Buenos Aires.
Félix Luna died in Buenos Aires on November 5, 2009. He left behind a huge collection of historical works and beloved songs that continue to educate and entertain people.
See also
In Spanish: Félix Luna para niños
