kids encyclopedia robot

José Antonio Osorio Lizarazo facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
José Antonio Osorio Lizarazo
Born (1900-12-30)December 30, 1900
Died (1964-12-10)December 10, 1964

José Antonio Osorio Lizarazo (born in 1900, died in 1964) was a famous writer from Colombia. He was born and grew up in Bogotá, the capital city. He finished school in 1916 and then started working as a journalist. By the time he was 23, he was already a skilled journalist, writing for a newspaper called Mundo al Día.

People knew Osorio as someone who paid close attention to what was happening in Bogotá society. He wrote for almost all the newspapers in the capital. Sometimes he used his own name, and sometimes he used a pen name, "El Solitario" (which means "The Loner").

Early Career and Public Roles

José Antonio Osorio Lizarazo managed several newspapers during his career. These included Diario Nacional, El Heraldo, and La Prensa in Barranquilla. He also worked at Sábado and Jornada. The newspaper Jornada supported a well-known politician named Jorge Eliécer Gaitán.

Besides journalism, Osorio also held several public jobs. He was a private secretary for government ministers in charge of war and education. He also directed publications at the Comptroller General’s office, which oversees government spending.

Travels and Important Books

In 1946, José Antonio Osorio Lizarazo left Colombia. He had some disagreements with Jorge Eliécer Gaitán. This began his many travels across Latin America. When Gaitán was sadly killed in April 1948, Osorio was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This sad event inspired him to write a novel called El día del odio (which means The Day of Hatred). This book, published in 1952, describes the days leading up to the Bogotazo. The Bogotazo was a period of big riots and violence in Bogotá after Gaitán's death.

Osorio lived in Argentina for about ten years. During this time, he became good friends with Juan Domingo Perón. Perón was the president of Argentina. Osorio stayed close to Perón until Perón lost power in 1955.

Life in Other Countries

Later, Osorio lived in Chile and the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic, he became close to Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. Trujillo was a powerful leader who ruled the island nation for a long time. Osorio worked for the government's newspaper and also wrote a book about Trujillo called Así es Trujillo (1958). This book described Trujillo's life. He wrote a few other books around this time that were connected to politics.

In 1961, Osorio returned to Colombia and settled back in Bogotá.

Later Life and Achievements

In his final years, José Antonio Osorio Lizarazo finished writing a novel called El camino en la sombra (The Road in the Shadow). This book won the first Esso Prize in 1963. This prize no longer exists today.

Overall, Osorio published about 24 books. This included 11 novels. His first novel, La casa de vecindad (The Neighborhood House), published in 1930, was very well-liked. In 2013, three of his "urban novels" were re-released at the Feria del Libro de Bogotá (Bogotá Book Fair). These were La casa de vecindad (1930), Garabato (1939), and El camino en la sombra (1964).

Family and Death

Osorio married his secretary, Eri, in 1945. She was 26 years younger than him. They had two daughters named María Cristina and Sandra Marcela.

José Antonio Osorio Lizarazo passed away on October 12, 1964, at the Hospital San José in Bogotá. He was first buried at the Cementerio Central (Central Cemetery) in Bogotá. However, seven years later, his ashes were moved. They were re-buried in the basement of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in the Chapinero district, which is in the northern part of Bogotá.

kids search engine
José Antonio Osorio Lizarazo Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.