Today Mario Vargas Llosa, the remarkable writer from Peru, whose life has been divided between his passion for literature, and his dedication to political causes finally won the Nobel prize of Literature.
This is particularly important to me, since I have not just read his books, but been personally influenced by his passion for freedom, democracy and political accountability.
Mario started as a left-wing liberal, supporting Castro and socialism in his early days, but soon after he realized freedom was lost in the socialist countries, and center right policies were better for a democracy, he did a 180 degree change, and even became a candidate for Peru’s presidency, which he lost. Bitter a few months after the race, he would even criticize harshly his homeland, gaining many enemies in the process.
However, Mario the writer eventually got over his loss as a politician, wrote a book about his fascinating experience: ”The Fish in the Water” or El Pez en El Agua; and some years later actually apologized to Peruvians.
On his first interview today, he actually was full of compliments to Peru, Peruvians and the land that inspired most of his books.
Being a writer who aligns with the right was hard on Mario, mostly because writers in Europe and Latin America are either on the left of the political spectrum, or at the very least are not vocal of their “right-wing opinions.” Mario however would never have that, he openly attacked Castro’s socialist Cuba regime, and Venezuela’s recent turn to the left with Hugo Chavez.
Many feared that perhaps his outspoken political stands would prevent the Swedish Academy from ever honoring him with a Nobel, like it unfortunately happened with the great Argentinian writer Borges. What a pleasant surprise it must have been for him to know that it actually happened today, and what a celebration for Peru, Spain and all of Latin America to have a new winner of the Nobel Prize of Literature.
¡Bravo Mario, siempre confiamos en ti, este premio Nobel es un reconocimiento a tu carrera, y también para el Perú donde ocurren tantas de tus historias, para el idioma español y para la literatura Latino Americana!
Bravo Mario, we always had faith in you, this Nobel prize is a recognition to your career, to Peru where most of your stories take place, to the Spanish language and to all Latin American Literature!
Best English Coverage about this good news on the LA Times, and Living in Peru.
Cover art: Mario’s picture from the book “Freedom and life”, a book that touches on Mario’s life, more details here and here.
