Marcela Paz facts for kids

Marcela Paz (born February 28, 1902 – died June 12, 1985) was the pen name of Esther Huneeus Ramos Falla Salas de Claro. She was a famous Chilean writer, best known for creating the beloved character Papelucho. Marcela Paz also used other pen names like Paula de la Sierra, Lukim Retse, P. Neka, and Juanita Godoy. Her amazing work earned her the National Prize for Literature, which is a very important award in Chile.

Early Life

Marcela Paz was born in Santiago, Chile, on February 28, 1902. She came from a wealthy family and was the second of eight children. Her parents were Francisco Huneeus Gana and María Teresa Salas Subercaseaux.

From a young age, Esther loved to be by herself and use her imagination. This became even more important after her older sister, Anita, passed away when Esther was only 11 years old. She also didn't have many friends her own age.

Esther didn't go to a regular school. Instead, she was taught at home by special teachers called governesses. In 1929, she traveled to France. There, she spent a few months studying visual arts, which means things like painting and drawing.

Starting Her Writing Career

When Marcela Paz returned to Chile, she slowly began her literary work. She also did some sculpting and quiet social work. Her first steps into writing were through popular magazines like Lectura, El Peneca, Ecran, Zig-Zag, Eva, and Margarita. She also wrote for newspapers such as La Nación, El Diario Ilustrado, El Mercurio, and La Tercera.

It was during this time that Esther Huneeus started publishing under the name Marcela Paz. This pen name helped her become famous. Before that, she had used other names like Paula de la Sierra, Lukim Retse, P. Neka, and Juanita Godoy.

In 1933, Esther published her first novel, Tiempo, papel y lápiz. It was well-received by critics. In the same year, she married José Luis Claro, even though she had thought she would never get married.

The World of Papelucho

In 1947, Marcela Paz published the first book featuring her most famous character, Papelucho. Papelucho quickly became a friend and inspiration for many generations of children. He is one of Chile's most well-known characters from the 20th century.

Between 1964 and 1967, Marcela Paz led the Chilean part of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). This group helps promote books for children and young adults around the world.

Awards and Recognition

Marcela Paz received many honors for her contributions to literature.

• In 1968, she earned a Hans Christian Andersen honor diploma. This award is very important for children's literature.
• In 1979, she received the gold medal from the Instituto Cultural de Providencia.
• In 1982, she was given the Premio Nacional de Literatura de Chile. This is the highest literary award in Chile.

Later Life and Tributes

Marcela Paz passed away at the age of 83 on June 12, 1985, in Santiago, Chile. She is buried in the Cementerio General de Santiago.

On February 29, 2012, Google Chile honored Marcela Paz with a special Birthday Doodle. This was a drawing on their homepage to celebrate what they thought was her 110th birthday. It's interesting because 1902 was not a leap year, so February 29, 1902, didn't actually exist. The date was given by her family.

Images for kids

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  Marcela Paz (1902-1985)

See also

In Spanish: Marcela Paz para niños