Severo Sarduy
Encyclopedia
Severo Sarduy was a Cuban
poet
, author, playwright, and critic of Cuban literature and art.
, where he began a study of medicine. With the triumph of the Cuban revolution
he collaborated with the Diario libre and Lunes de revolución, pro-marxist papers. In 1960 he traveled to Paris to study at the Ecole du Louvre
. There he was connected to the group of intellectuals who produced the magazine Tel Quel
, particularly to philosopher François Wahl
, with whom he was openly involved. Sarduy worked as a reader for Editions du Seuil
and as editor and producer of the Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française
. In 1972 his novel Cobra won him the Medici Prize
. He was among the most brilliant essayists writing in Spanish and "a powerful baroque narrator, full of surprising resources.". As a poet, he was considered one of the greatest of his time. He was also a more or less secret painter; a major retrospective of his work was held at the Reina Sofía Museum of Madrid after his death. He died due to complications from AIDS
just after finishing his autobiographical work Los pájaros de la playa.
Along with José Lezama Lima
, Virgilio Piñera
, and Reinaldo Arenas
, Sarduy is one of the most famous Cuban writers of the twentieth century; some of his works deal explicitly with male homosexuality
and transvestism
.
Spanish
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, author, playwright, and critic of Cuban literature and art.
Biography
Sarduy went to the equivalent of high school in Camagüey and in 1956 moved to HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, where he began a study of medicine. With the triumph of the Cuban revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
he collaborated with the Diario libre and Lunes de revolución, pro-marxist papers. In 1960 he traveled to Paris to study at the Ecole du Louvre
École du Louvre
The École du Louvre is an institution of higher education and French Grande École located in the Aile de Flore of the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France, and is dedicated to the study of archaeology, art history, anthropology and epigraphy....
. There he was connected to the group of intellectuals who produced the magazine Tel Quel
Tel Quel
Tel Quel was an avant-garde magazine for literature, founded in 1960 in Paris by Philippe Sollers and Jean-Edern Hallier.-Overview:...
, particularly to philosopher François Wahl
François Wahl
François Wahl is a French editor and structuralist.-Biography:François Wahl was editor at the Éditions du Seuil, a publishing company in Paris. He was the editor of Jacques Lacan and Jacques Derrida, among others....
, with whom he was openly involved. Sarduy worked as a reader for Editions du Seuil
Éditions du Seuil
Éditions du Seuil is a French publishing house created in 1935, currently owned by La Martinière Groupe. It owes its name to this goal "The seuil is the whole excitement of parting and arriving...
and as editor and producer of the Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française
Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française
Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française was the French national public broadcasting organization established on 9 February 1949 to replace the post-war "Radiodiffusion Française" , which had been founded in 1945...
. In 1972 his novel Cobra won him the Medici Prize
Prix Médicis
The Prix Médicis is a French literary award given each year in November. It was founded in 1958 by Gala Barbisan and Jean-Pierre Giraudoux. It is awarded to an author whose "fame does not yet match his talent."...
. He was among the most brilliant essayists writing in Spanish and "a powerful baroque narrator, full of surprising resources.". As a poet, he was considered one of the greatest of his time. He was also a more or less secret painter; a major retrospective of his work was held at the Reina Sofía Museum of Madrid after his death. He died due to complications from AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
just after finishing his autobiographical work Los pájaros de la playa.
Along with José Lezama Lima
José Lezama Lima
José Lezama Lima was a Cuban writer and poet who is considered one of the most influential figures in Latin American literature....
, Virgilio Piñera
Virgilio Piñera
Virgilio Piñera Llera was a Cuban author, playwright, poet, short-story writer, and essayist.Among his most famous poems are "La isla en peso" , and "La gran puta" . He was a member of the "Origenes" literary group, although he often differed with the conservative views of the group...
, and Reinaldo Arenas
Reinaldo Arenas
Reinaldo Arenas was a Cuban poet, novelist, and playwright who despite his early sympathy for the 1959 revolution, grew critical of and then rebelled against the Cuban government.- Life :...
, Sarduy is one of the most famous Cuban writers of the twentieth century; some of his works deal explicitly with male homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and transvestism
Transvestism
Transvestism is the practice of cross-dressing, which is wearing clothing traditionally associated with the opposite sex. Transvestite refers to a person who cross-dresses; however, the word often has additional connotations. -History:Although the word transvestism was coined as late as the 1910s,...
.
Further reading
English- “Severo Sarduy (1937-93).” The encyclopedia of caribbean literature.Vol. 2: M-Z. Ed. D.H. Figueredo. Rolando Pérez., 2006
- The review of contemporary fiction : Douglas Glover, Blaise Cendrars, Severo Sarduy / Rolando Pérez., 2004
- Hispanic literature criticism. Supplement / Susan Salas., 1999
- Between the self and the void : essays in honor of Severo Sarduy / Alicia Rivero Potter., 1998
- Orientalism in the Hispanic literary tradition : in dialogue with Borges, Paz, and Sarduy / Julia Kushigian., 1991
- Severo Sarduy and the religion of the text / Rolando Perez., 1988
- The name game : writing/fading writer in De donde son los cantantes / Oscar Montero., 1988
Spanish
- Severo Sarduy : alcances de una novelística y otros ensayos / Johan Gotera., 2005
- Severo Sarduy : escrito sobre un rostro / Oneyda González., 2003
- La imagen y el cuerpo : Lezama y Sarduy / Virgilio López Lemus., 1997
- Severo Sarduy y Pedro Almodóvar : del barroco al kitsch en la narrativa y el cine postmodernos / Alejandro Varderi., 1996
- Escrito sobre Severo : una relectura de Sarduy / Francisco Cabanillas., 1995
- Author/lector : Huidobro, Borges, Fuentes y Sarduy / Alicia Rivero Potter., 1991
- La ruta de Severo Sarduy / Roberto González Echevarría., 1987
- La estrategia neobarroca / Gustavo Guerrero., 1987
- La temática novelística de Severo Sarduy : De dónde son los cantantes / José Sánchez-Boudy.,1985
- Severo Sarduy : el neobarroco de la transgresión / Adriana Méndez Rodenas., 1983
- Severo Sarduy / Jorge Aguilar Mora., 1976