Luis Rafael Sánchez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luis Rafael Sánchez
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| Born | November 17, 1936 Humacao, Puerto Rico |
| Pen name | Wico |
| Occupation | Playwright, novelist |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Genre | novel, short story, play |
Dr. Luis Rafael Sánchez, also known as "Wico" Sánchez, was born on November 17, 1936. He is a famous Puerto Rican writer who creates essays, novels, and short stories. Many people think he is one of Puerto Rico's most important playwrights (people who write plays) today. One of his most famous plays is La Pasión según Antígona Pérez (The Passion according to Antigona Perez). This play is a sad story based on the life of a real person named Olga Viscal Garriga.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sánchez grew up in Humacao, Puerto Rico, a city in the eastern part of the island. He went to elementary school there. Later, his family moved to San Juan, where he finished high school and went to college.
In 1955, he started studying at the University of Puerto Rico. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there. During his time at the university, he became very interested in acting. He learned a lot from his teacher, Victoria Espinosa.
Sánchez loved literature so much that he decided to study it more. In 1959, he earned his master's degree in dramatic arts from the City University of New York. He then traveled to Madrid, Spain, where he earned his Doctorate in Literature in 1976 from the Complutense University of Madrid.
La Pasión según Antígona Pérez
Sánchez's most well-known play is La Pasión según Antígona Pérez. It is a sad story that takes place in Latin America. The play was inspired by an ancient Greek play called Antigone by Sophocles.
The main character, Antigona, is based on the life of Olga Viscal Garriga (1926–1995). Olga was involved in politics and had three children. She was a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and a great speaker. She even spent time in jail because of her political beliefs. Even though she saw herself as a simple woman, she was actually a very complex person with many different sides to her personality.
The play was first performed in 1968 at the Tapia Theater in Old San Juan. This was during the 11th Annual Puerto Rican Theater Festival. The actress Myrna Vázquez played the role of Antigona.
In 1991, a new version of the play was performed with many famous actors. It took place at San Juan's Performing Arts Center. This production used video and broadcast technology. Another new production opened in San Juan in 2011.
La Guaracha del Macho Camacho (Macho Camacho's Beat)
La Guaracha del Macho Camacho (Macho Camacho's Beat) is a novel Sánchez published in 1976. This book is like a guaracha, which is a lively Latin music style. The story makes readers imagine what this music sounds like. Some people even say that the song itself is the most important character in the book.
The novel explores how Puerto Rico has been influenced by American culture. It also talks about Puerto Rican politics and the island's situation as a territory. One part of the book looks at how some Puerto Ricans might give up their culture to fit into American culture. It compares them to Puerto Ricans who want to keep their cultural identity strong. The book was translated into English by Gregory Rabassa.
In his essay "La guagua aérea" ("The Flying Bus"), Sánchez writes about having two cultures at once. He discusses whether people should blend into American culture or stand against it. He created the term "La guagua aérea," which means "The Flying Bus." Other famous Puerto Rican writers, like Giannina Braschi, have used this term too. She honored Sánchez's essay in her Spanglish novel "Yo-Yo Boing!". Sánchez also wrote a collection of short stories called En cuerpo de camisa ("In Shirt Sleeves") in 1966.
Luis Rafael Sánchez is now a professor emeritus (a retired professor who keeps their title) at the University of Puerto Rico and the City University of New York. He travels to Europe and Latin America, where he teaches and works in theater.
Other Important Works
- Los ángeles se han fatigado (play, 1960)
- Farsa del amor compradito (play, 1960)
- La hiel nuestra de cada día (play, 1960)
- Sol 13, interior (play, 1961)
- O casi el alma (play, 1965)
- En cuerpo de camisa (short story collection, 1966)
- Quíntuples (play, 1985)
- La importancia de llamarse Daniel Santos (novel, 1988)
- No llores por nosotros Puerto Rico (essay collection, 1998)
- Indiscreciones de un perro gringo (novel, 2007)
- El corazón frente al mar (essay, 2021)
- Escribir en puertorriqueño (anthology, 2024)
See also
In Spanish: Luis Rafael Sánchez para niños
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- List of Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican literature
- Latino Theater in the United States
