José Luis Appleyard facts for kids

José Luis Appleyard (born May 5, 1927 – died 1998) was a famous Paraguayan poet. He wrote many poems and also worked as a journalist.

Early Life and Education

José Luis Appleyard was born in Asunción, the capital city of Paraguay.

He went to "la Escuela Normal de Profesores" for his first studies. He started high school at Colegio de San José in Asunción. Later, he finished high school at Colegio San Martín in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He then studied law at Universidad Nacional de Asunción. After becoming a lawyer, he worked in that field for about ten years. But he soon decided to follow his passion for journalism and poetry.

Starting His Career

José Luis Appleyard was a favorite student of César Alonso de las Heras. Father Alonso was a priest at Colegio de San José. He was very important for sharing Spanish poetry from famous groups of poets. He also guided many talented young writers. Appleyard was a leader in the literary groups at his school and later at the university.

Appleyard was part of a special group of Paraguayan poets called "the fifties generation." Other well-known poets from this group included José María Gómez Sanjurjo, Ricardo Mazó, and Ramiro Domínguez.

For nearly twenty years, he worked as a journalist for the La Tribuna newspaper in Asunción. He was in charge of the "Culture Area" and directed the cultural section published on Sundays. He also wrote a popular column called "Monólogos." This column discussed interesting topics of the time, like how people spoke in Paraguay. Later, he worked for Ultima Hora newspaper. His column there, "Desde el tiempo que vivo," was very popular with thousands of readers.

Many countries, like the United States and Germany, invited him to visit. He traveled to many places, giving talks and sharing his poems.

His Journey as a Writer

José Luis Appleyard became the President of the PEN Club of Paraguay. He was also an important member and secretary of the Academia Paraguaya de la Lengua Española. This is a very important group for the Spanish language and culture in Paraguay.

A fellow poet and writer, Roque Vallejos, wrote about Appleyard's work. He said that Appleyard's poems sometimes used humor to talk about society. His writing quietly described the feeling of being trapped during a long dictatorship. Appleyard always based his poems on the idea of freedom.

Hugo Rodríguez-Alcalá, a person who studies Paraguayan literature, also wrote about Appleyard. He said that Appleyard was one of the best writers of his time. Appleyard often wrote about missing old times, young love, and the magic of childhood. These themes are found in his book of poems, "Entonces era siempre." In this book, he looks back at his childhood.

Appleyard's Poetic Style

In 1981, José Luis Appleyard wrote a short introduction to his book "Tomado de la mano." He explained how his poems were like a long journey through his life.

He said that through his verses, he felt both sad and happy. He felt lonely sometimes, but even more so when he was with others. He saw himself as a child in Areguá and as a young student in Buenos Aires. He felt the excitement of being with friends in the university group again. He also saw himself as he was then, with white hair and a white beard.

He hoped that readers would see a path in his poems, a path where life happens. If they did, he felt his poems would have done their job. If not, he still saw his poems as his "sons." He felt they were born from strong feelings, sometimes even pain. He believed these poems were left alone with the reader, hoping they would find their own truth.

Awards and Recognition

In 1961, José Luis Appleyard won the Municipal Award of Theater. He received it for his play about Paraguay's independence, called "Aquel 1811."

In 1997, he received Paraguay's highest literary award, the National Prize for Literature. He won this for his book Cenizas de la vida.

Later Life

José Luis Appleyard passed away in Asunción in 1998.

His Works

Even though he wrote many short pieces, most of his plays were never published.

See also

In Spanish: José Luis Appleyard para niños