Tristán Marof facts for kids

Tristán Marof (born Gustavo Adolfo Navarro in Sucre, Bolivia, in 1898; died in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, in 1979) was an important Bolivian writer, journalist, and diplomat. He worked as a Consul of Bolivia in Europe. While there, he became interested in the labor movement and ideas like Marxism and Leninism.

In 1940, Marof helped create the Socialist Workers' Party of Bolivia. He was a leader of the Confederation of Bolivian Workers (CSTB) before this.

Early Life and Interests

Marof grew up in Sucre in a humble family. From a young age, he was very interested in politics and social issues. When he was just 17, he started a short-lived magazine called Renacimiento Altoperuano (Renaissance Upper Peru). Later, he wrote for the newspaper El Hombre Libre (Freeman). He became known for speaking out against the Liberal Party (Bolivia), which was very powerful in Bolivia at the time.

Joining the Republican Movement

Around 1920, Marof joined the Republican Party, which was led by Bautista Saavedra. That same year, a military group removed the president, José Gutiérrez Guerra. Saavedra then became the leader. Marof was very active during this change. He even helped manage a prison in La Paz during the takeover. Because of his involvement, he was given a job as a consul in Le Havre, France.

Marof's Time in Europe

While living in France, Gustavo Navarro started to learn more about communism and Marxism. He met many important thinkers, politicians, and writers who shared these ideas, like Henri Barbusse. Barbusse even wrote introductions for Marof's books and helped him connect with French leftist groups.

During this time, Navarro began to write about his ideas. He wrote works like The Americas Naive and Justice of the Inca. In these books, he imagined the ancient Inca system as a perfect society, similar to communism. It was in France that he started using the pen name Tristán Marof. His strong communist views soon made it hard for him to continue as a consul, so he resigned. However, he stayed in Europe until 1926.

Years in Exile

When Marof returned to Bolivia, he quickly started working with local politicians. His goal was to create a Marxist socialist movement. In 1927, he and Roberto Hinojosa formed what they called the Maximum Socialist Party. Marof tried to run for Congress in Sucre. However, the government accused him and his group of planning a political uprising. Because of this, he had to leave Bolivia and go into exile in Argentina.

For almost 10 years, Marof traveled a lot during his exile. He visited countries like Panama, Mexico, Peru, and Cuba. During this time, he wrote some of his most important books. These included Wall Street and Hunger (Wall Street y hambre) and Mexico to the Front and Side (México de frente y de perfil). His book about Mexico caused some debate because it criticized the Mexican Revolution. The Mexican government even asked him to leave, saying he was causing trouble.

Marof made many important friends and connections during his exile. These included famous thinkers like José Carlos Mariátegui and Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre. His constant work and activism made him well-known among progressive groups in Latin America. However, he also had some disagreements with the Communist International and the Soviet Union's diplomacy. One reason for these differences was his support for Leon Trotsky when Trotsky was also in exile.

While in Argentina, Marof started a group called "Túpac Amaru." This group believed in Marxist ideas and peace, especially against the growing conflict in the Chaco region. In 1935, this group joined with other Bolivian leftist groups, including those in Chile and Peru. Together, they formed the Revolutionary Workers' Party (POR). Marof was one of the early leaders of this party, along with José Aguirre Gainsbourg, Alipio Valencia, and Eduardo Arze.

Marof's Writings

Tristán Marof's writings often criticized Bolivian society and its political systems. His first novel, The Civic, strongly supported Bautista Saavedra.

Many people compare Marof to the Peruvian writer José Carlos Mariátegui. This is because of how deeply he analyzed and understood Bolivia's situation. Some of Marof's most famous works include:

• Justice del Inca (published in Belgium)
• Essays and Criticism: Bolivian Revolutions, International Wars and Writers
• Wall Street and Hunger (published in 1927)
• The Tragedy of the Altiplano
• Truth in Bolivia Socialist
• The Nazi Danger in Bolivia
• The Oath
• Mexico from the Front and Side

He was very critical of the Chaco War, which was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay. He believed it was a senseless war that harmed many Indigenous Guarani people. Marof wrote that powerful companies pushed for the war to gain control of oil lands. He felt that the wealthy people in Bolivia supported this for their own gain.

Marof continued to publish important comments on Bolivian authors, history, and international politics until 1967. He also wrote his autobiography, titled The Novel of a Man. His ideas continue to be discussed today. He believed that Bolivians often blamed bad luck for their problems instead of thinking deeply about solutions. He hoped that Bolivia would unite and become prosperous in the future.

Other Important Works

• The Civics, 1919
• Suetonio Pimienta, novel, 1924
• The Experiment, 1947
• The Illustrious City, novel, 1950
• Essays and Criticism. Bolivian Revolutions, International Wars and Writers, 1961.

See also

In Spanish: Tristán Marof para niños