Hernán Rivera Letelier facts for kids
Hernán Rivera Letelier is a famous Chilean writer, born on July 11, 1950, in Talca, Chile. He is known for his interesting novels, many of which are set in the old saltpeter mining towns of northern Chile. His stories often bring these unique places and their people to life.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Hernán grew up in a saltpeter mining town called Algorta until he was 11 years old. When the mine closed, his family moved to Antofagasta. Sadly, his mother passed away there, and his brothers and sisters went to live with their aunts. Hernán stayed in Antofagasta by himself for a while. To make a living, he sold newspapers.
Later, he worked as a messenger. But he loved adventure! So, he spent three years traveling through Chile, Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, and Argentina. This journey gave him many experiences that would later inspire his writing.
Becoming a Novelist
When Hernán returned to Antofagasta in 1973, he started working at a company called Mantos Blancos. He got married when he was 24. He also went back to school at night to finish his studies and even earned a license to teach.
Even though he started by writing poetry and short stories, Hernán became most famous for his novels. His books are very popular and have won important awards. He won the Premio Consejo Nacional de Libro (Chilean National Book Award) twice, in 1994 and 1996. In 2010, his novel El arte de la resurrección won the Premio Alfaguara de Novela in Spain, which is a big award for novels.
His Unique Writing Style
Hernán Rivera Letelier dreams of a special writing style. He wants to mix the "magic" of Juan Rulfo, the "marvels" of Gabriel García Márquez, the "playfulness" of Cortázar, the "refinement" of Carlos Fuentes, and the "intelligence" of Borges. This shows he aims for his stories to be deep, fun, and full of wonder.
One of his well-known books, El arte de la resurrección (The Art of Resurrection), is a funny love story. It takes place in the early 1940s during a strike by saltpeter miners in the dry northern part of Chile. The story is about a preacher known as El Cristo de Elqui (the Christ of Elqui) who tries to make a follower out of a woman named Magalena Mercado.
Published Works
Hernán Rivera Letelier has written many books. Here are some of his most famous novels:
- La reina Isabel cantaba rancheras (The Queen Isabel Sang Mexican Music). 1994
- Himno del ángel parado en una pata (The Anthem of the Angel Standing on one Foot). 1996
- Fatamorgana de amor con banda de música (Mirage of Love with Band of Musicians). 1998
- Los trenes se van al purgatorio (Trains Leave for Purgatory). 2000
- Santa María de las flores negras (Santa María of the Black Flowers). 2002
- El Fantasista (The Fantasist). 2007
- La Contadora de Películas (The Movie-Teller). 2009
- El arte de la resurrección (The Art of Resurrection). 2010
- El vendedor de pájaros (The Bird-Seller). 2014.
Books Translated into Other Languages
Many of Hernán Rivera Letelier's books have been translated into different languages. You can find his stories in French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Polish, and Turkish. This means people all over the world can enjoy his unique tales. For example, his book La Contadora de Películas was translated into English in 2023.
Movies Based on His Books
One of his novels, La Contadora de Películas (The Movie-Teller), was made into a movie! The film was released in 2023. It was directed by Lone Scherfig and starred actors like Bérénice Beko, Daniel Brühl, and Antonio de la Torre. This shows how popular and impactful his stories are.
See also
In Spanish: Hernán Rivera Letelier para niños
