Juan José Saer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan José Saer
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| Born | June 28, 1937 Serodino, Argentina |
| Died | June 11, 2005 (aged 67) Paris, France |
| Occupation | Novelist, writer |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Education | law and philosophy |
| Alma mater | National University of the Littoral |
| Notable awards | Premio Nadal |
| Partner | Laurence Gueguen (1968-2005) |
Juan José Saer (born June 28, 1937, in Serodino, Argentina – died June 11, 2005, in Paris, France) was a very important Argentine writer. Many people think he was one of the best writers in Latin American literature during the 20th century.
Some experts even say he was the most important Argentine writer after Jorge Luis Borges. His books are well-known and loved by many readers. Four of his novels, La Pesquisa, El Entenado, La Grande, and Glosa, are often listed among the top 100 Spanish-language books from the last 25 years.
Saer won the Nadal Prize in 1987 for his novel La Ocasión. He also won the Silver Condor Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1990 for the movie Las Veredas de Saturno.
Life and Education
Juan José Saer was born in Serodino, a small town in the Santa Fe Province of Argentina. His parents were immigrants from Syria and Lebanon.
He studied law and philosophy at the National University of the Litoral. Later, he taught History of Cinematography at the same university.
In 1968, Saer received a special scholarship. This allowed him to move to Paris, France. There, he became a teacher at the University of Rennes. He taught there for many years.
His Writing World
Juan José Saer's books often feel like they are all connected. Many of his stories take place in a fictional area he called "La Zona." This area is inspired by the river region around the city of Santa Fe in Argentina.
His books feature characters who appear in different novels. You can see them grow and change from one story to the next. This makes his collection of works feel like one big, ongoing story.
Saer's novels sometimes explore the idea of writers who live far from their home country. For example, he wrote about two twin brothers. One stayed in Argentina during difficult political times, while the other moved to Paris, just like Saer did. His stories follow their separate and sometimes connected lives.
He also liked to use different types of stories as a starting point. He wrote detective stories, tales about colonial encounters, and travel stories. He even used ideas from famous writers like Marcel Proust and James Joyce in his own unique way.
In 2012, some of his private notebooks were published. These books, called "Papeles de trabajo," give readers a special look into how Saer created his stories. They show his thoughts and ideas as he worked on his novels.
Later Years and Legacy
Juan José Saer passed away in Paris on June 11, 2005. He was 67 years old and had been battling lung cancer. He was buried in the famous Père-Lachaise cemetery.
At the time of his death, he was almost finished with his longest novel, La Grande. This book was published after he died in 2005. Another collection of his writings, called Trabajos, was also published posthumously in 2006. This book included articles he had written for newspapers and magazines.
Saer's work continues to be studied and enjoyed by readers around the world. He left behind a rich collection of novels and essays that are still very important in literature today.
Film Adaptations
Many of Juan José Saer's stories and novels have been turned into movies. Here are some of them:
- Palo y hueso (Stick and Bone, 1968): This film was based on his story of the same name. Saer even helped write the script.
- Nadie Nada Nunca (No, No, Never, 1998): This movie was directed by Raúl Beceyro and based on Saer's novel.
- Cicatrices (Scars, 2001): Directed by Patricio Coll, this film was also based on one of his novels.
- Tres de corazones (Three of Hearts, 2007): This movie was based on his short story The Taximetrist.
- Yarará (2015): Directed by Santiago Sarquís, this film was based on the story The path of the coast.
- El limonero real (The real lemon tree, 2016): Directed by Gustavo Fontán, this movie was based on his novel of the same name.
See also
In Spanish: Juan José Saer para niños
