Fun Facts Friday: Carlos Fuentes

Carlos Fuentes (11 November, 1928 – 15 May, 2012) was a novelist and essayist from Mexico.  Mr. Fuentes was an influential force in Latin literature, garnering many awards and much praise.

Books by Carlos Fuentes*

Fun Facts about Carlos Fuentes:

1. Carlos Fuentes Macias was born in in Panama City, Panama to Berta Macias and Rafael Fuentes. Mr. Fuentes was a Mexican diplomat and the young Carlos moved around with the family living in several capital cities in Latin America, as well as Washington D.C.
2. When the family was transferred to Santiago, Chile in 1940, the young man discovered the poetry of Pablo Neruda. He also became interested in Socialism, which became a lifelong passion.
3. Only at age 16, did the future famous Mexican writer actually started living in Mexico. He studied law hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps in diplomacy. While going to school, he also started writing short stories for the newspaper Hoy. Afterward, Mr. Fuentes attend a graduate school for international studies in Geneva.
4. His first book Where the Air is Clear was a huge success and allowed him to leave his diplomatic post and write full-time.
5. Between 1975 and 1977 the author served as Mexico’s ambassador to France. He resigned in protest after ex-President Ordaz was appointed the ambassador to Spain.
6. Among the institutions Carlos Fuentes taught in were Cambridge, Brown, Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, as well as the University of Pennsylvania.
7. He was good friends with President Bill Clinton and Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez.
8. Carlos Fuentes enjoyed taking taxis so he could talk to people he met about his books.
9. The author won many literary honors including the Miguel de Cervantes Prize and the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor (Mexico’s highest award).
10. On May, 2012 Mr. Fuentes’ doctor found him collapsed in his home in Mexico City. He suffered a massive hemorrhage and passed away.

Books by Carlos Fuentes*

Zohar — Man of la Book
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account, the money is usually spent on books