Pedro Prado facts for kids
Pedro Prado Calvo (born October 8, 1886 – died January 31, 1952) was a talented Chilean writer and architect. He was a very important figure in Chilean literature and won the country's highest literary award, the Chilean National Prize for Literature, in 1949. He was known for his unique writing style and his many different talents.
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Pedro Prado's Early Life and Education
Pedro Prado was born in Chile on October 8, 1886. He faced challenges early in life, as his mother passed away when he was only two years old, and his father died in 1905.
In 1895, Pedro started studying at the Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera. He focused on subjects like history and literature until 1903. He also took extra classes in German, accounting, painting, and music, showing his wide range of interests.
After high school, he studied engineering and then architecture at the University of Chile. Even though he didn't finish his architecture degree, he started taking painting lessons from Pedro Lira, a famous Chilean artist.
Adulthood and Achievements
Around 1910, Pedro Prado traveled to northern Chile and southern Argentina. He married Adriana Jaramillo Bruce on January 1, 1910.
That same year, he became the President of the Federation of Students in Chile (FECH). He also attended a big meeting of students in Buenos Aires as a representative for Chile.
In 1914, Pedro helped create an important Chilean literary group called Los Diez (The Ten). This group brought together artists and writers who wanted to try new things in their work. In 1949, he received the prestigious National Prize for Literature, recognizing his great contributions to Chilean writing.
Pedro Prado: The Writer
Pedro Prado was a very creative writer who explored many different styles.
Poetry and Prose
He started his writing journey with poetry. In 1908, he published "Flores de cardo" (Thistle Flowers). This book was special because it used "free verse," which meant the poems didn't have to follow strict rhyming rules. This was a new and exciting style in Chile.
In 1912, he introduced "prose poetry" with "La casa abandonada" (The Abandoned House). This style blended poetry with regular story-telling, breaking away from traditional rhyming poems.
Other important poetry works include "El llamado del mundo" (The Call of the World) in 1913, and "Los diez, el claustro, la barca" (The Ten, the Cloister, the Boat) in 1915. That same year, "Los Pájaros Errantes" (The Wandering Birds) came out, which many consider his best lyrical work. He continued with "Las Copas" (The Cups) and "Karez y Roshan" in 1921, and the play-like poem "Androvar" in 1925.
Novels and Stories
Pedro Prado also wrote deep and thoughtful novels. His stories often mixed creative ideas with poetic language.
In 1914, he published his first novel, "La reina de Rapa Nui" (The Queen of Easter Island). This exotic story used a simple love plot to share interesting facts about Easter Island folklore.
His most famous work is "Alsino," published in 1920. This is a mythical and philosophical story written in prose, full of poetic and symbolic language. It tells the amazing tale of a young peasant boy named Alsino. He dreams of flying, like the Greek myth of Icarus. One day, he jumps from a tree, and after a rough landing, he grows a hump on his back. From this hump, wings grow, allowing him to fly just as he wished! Pedro Prado himself called it a "romantic poem."
In 1924, he published "Un juez rural" (A Rural Judge). This novel was more realistic and based on folk tales. It shared some of Pedro's own beliefs about justice and the challenges faced by those who work in the legal system.
Essays and Other Writings
Pedro Prado also wrote essays, which are short pieces of writing that explore a topic. In 1916, he wrote "Ensayo Sobre Arquitectura y Poesía" (Essay on Architecture and Poetry), where he shared his thoughts on architecture. He also wrote about architecture in magazines like Juventud.
In 1924, he wrote an essay called "Bases para un nuevo Gobierno y un Nuevo Parlamento" (Foundations for a New Government and a New Parliament). He wrote this at the request of Arturo Alessandri, a former Chilean president.
Awards and Recognition
In 1935, Pedro Prado received the "Premio Academia de Roma" (Rome Academy Prize) from the Italian embassy. That same year, he also won the "Premio Municipal de Santiago" (Santiago Municipal Prize).
As mentioned, he won the Premio Nacional de Literatura in 1949. In 1950, he became a member of the Academia Chilena de la Lengua (Chilean Academy of Language). Pedro Prado passed away on January 31, 1952, at his summer home in Viña del Mar.
Pedro Prado: A Well-Rounded Intellectual
Pedro Prado was not just a writer; he was a true intellectual with many talents, including painting, architecture, and diplomacy.
As a Painter
Having learned from Pedro Lira, Pedro Prado loved painting Chilean landscapes. He also illustrated many publications of his time, including some of his own books.
In 1917, he won the Third Place Medal in Painting at an art exhibition in Santiago. In 1918, he helped start the National Society of Fine Arts. He had his own art shows in 1921 and 1922. From 1921 to 1923, he was the director of the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts.
As an Architect
Pedro Prado cared deeply about the look of cities. He often criticized the way Santiago was planned, wanting it to be more beautiful and organized.
When he was director of the National Museum of Fine Arts, he oversaw repairs to the building. He pointed out that the building had structural problems even though it was quite new. He also worked on the Palacio Bruna, which serves as an embassy and consulate for the United States.
As a Diplomat
Pedro Prado also represented Chile as a diplomat on two occasions. In 1925, he attended the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Bolivian Declaration of Independence.
In 1927, he was appointed as Chile's Minister to Colombia by President Emiliano Figueroa. He held this important position until December 1928 and was awarded the Order of Boyaca by Colombia for his service.
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Prado para niños
