Jaime Sáenz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jaime Sáenz
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Jaime Sáenz by Javier Molina, from Imágenes paceñas (1979)
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| Born | 8 October 1921 La Paz, Bolivia |
| Died | 16 August 1986 (aged 64) La Paz, Bolivia |
| Occupation | Writer, poet, storyteller |
Jaime Sáenz Guzmán (born October 8, 1921 – died August 16, 1986) was a famous Bolivian writer. He was a poet, novelist, and professor. He was best known for his stories and poems. His writing style was very unique, sometimes similar to surrealist art.
Jaime Sáenz was born, lived, and passed away in La Paz, Bolivia. This city was always a part of his stories and poems. He is seen as one of the most important writers in Bolivian literature. His life and work showed a lot about Bolivian culture in the 20th century. Many people have studied his work, and his books have been translated into English, Italian, and German.
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About Jaime Sáenz
Jaime Sáenz was born on October 8, 1921, in La Paz, Bolivia. His father was Genaro Sáenz Rivero, a lieutenant colonel in the Bolivian Army. His mother was Graciela Guzmán Lazarte. He started his education in La Paz, going to Muñoz School for primary grades. He then attended the American Institute of La Paz for secondary school, finishing in 1937.
In 1938, he traveled to Germany with some friends. This trip to Europe was very important for his writing. He was inspired by thinkers like Arthur Schopenhauer and Franz Kafka. He also enjoyed the music of Richard Wagner and Anton Bruckner.
When he returned to Bolivia in 1939, he began working for the Bolivian government. In 1942, he joined the United States Information Service (USIS) at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz. He married Erika Käseberg, a German citizen, and they had a daughter named Jourlaine. Later, Erika and their daughter moved back to Germany.
Jaime Sáenz published his first magazine, Cornamusa, in 1944. He left his job at the USIS in 1952. He continued to write and publish many books. These included El escalpelo (The Scalpel) in 1955 and Muerte por el tacto (Death by Touch) in 1957. Other works like Aniversario de una visión (Anniversary of a Vision) and Visitante profundo (Immanent Visitor) followed. His book El frío (The Cold) came out in 1967.
His selected poems, Immanent Visitor, were published in English in 2002. Another book, "The Night", was translated into English in 2007. Jaime Sáenz passed away on August 16, 1986.
Sáenz as a Professor
In 1970, Jaime Sáenz became a professor of Bolivian Literature. He taught at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA) in La Paz. He wrote a special paper about the writer Alcides Arguedas.
He also wrote plays, like La noche del viernes (Friday Night) in 1974. He even wrote a story for an opera called Perdido viajero (Lost Traveler).
In 1978, Sáenz started a Poetry Workshop at UMSA. He helped students learn about poetry. That same year, he published Imágenes paceñas (Images from La Paz).
He also had an art exhibition called Calaveras (Skulls). He showed about twenty pictures of skulls. Some titles were Skull that Resisted Being a Skull and Skull with Toothache.
The Krupp Workshops
For many years, Jaime Sáenz hosted special evening gatherings. These meetings were held at his home, known as the "Krupp Workshop". It was a place where people could share ideas and talk about many things. They would publish literary magazines, play games, listen to music, and discuss poetry.
His Influence
Jaime Sáenz had a big impact on Bolivian literature, music, and art. Many artists and writers, even young filmmakers, have been inspired by his work.
Young people often found his lifestyle interesting. He was known for sleeping during the day and living at night. This unique way of life was often reflected in his writing.
Honoring Jaime Sáenz
In La Paz, Bolivia, a street in the Cota Cota neighborhood is named after Jaime Sáenz. There is also a plaza named in his memory. It is near the Jaime Saenz Cultural District House.
Works by Jaime Sáenz
Poetry books
- (1955) El escalpelo
- (1957) Cuatro poemas para mi madre
- (1957) Muerte por el tacto
- (1960) Aniversario de una visión
- (1964) Visitante profundo; English Translation: Immanent Visitor: Selected poems of Jaime Saenz (2002)
- (1967) El frío; English Translation: The Cold (2015)
- (1973) Recorrer esta distancia (anthology)
- (1978) Bruckner
- (1978) Las tinieblas
- (1982) Al pasar un cometa
- (1984) La noche; English Translation: The Night (2007)
Short stories
- (1972) El aparapita de La Paz
- (1979) Imágenes paceñas
- (1985) Los cuartos
- (1986) Vidas y Muertes (published after his death)
- (1989) La piedra imán (published after his death)
- (1996) Obras inéditas (collection published after his death)
- Carta de amor
- Santiago de Machaca
- El señor Balboa
- (2009) Tocnolencias (published after his death)
Novels
- (1979) Felipe Delgado
- (1991) Los papeles de Narciso Lima-Achá
Theatre
- (2005) Obra dramática (collection published after his death)
- La máscara
- Perdido viajero
- La noche del viernes
Visual art
- (2005) Obra plástica (collection published after his death)
Collections of Sáenz's work
Jaime Sáenz never re-released his own works. These collections were put together and published by others.
- (1975) Plural Editores, Obra poética
- (2000) Café y mosquitero
- (2004) Recorrer esta distancia: Antología poética
- (2005) La bodega de Jaime Sáenz
- (2007) El escalpelo; Aniversario de una visión; Visitante profundo; El frío
- (2008) Prosa breve
- (2011) La crítica y el poeta
- (2015) Poesía reunida
See also
- Bolivian literature
