MUERE MARIO VARGAS LLOSA: El despertar de su vocación por la literatura | EL PAÍS

Summary

The speaker reflects on the challenges of becoming a writer in a country with limited intellectual life. Initially discouraged by his father, he was sent to a military school where he unexpectedly began writing letters for his peers. Later, he moved to Spain and then Paris to pursue his literary career, eventually finding success in England. A turning point came when a Spanish literary friend encouraged him to move to Barcelona, where he reunited with Spanish and Latin American writers. His father's surprise at seeing him featured in *Times* was a symbolic moment of validation for his unusual career choice.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker's father opposed his literary aspirations, pushing him to attend a military school, thinking it would discourage his interest in writing.
• 😀 Despite his father's intentions, the speaker became a writer during his time at the Leoncio Prado military school, helping fellow cadets write letters to their girlfriends.
• 😀 Intellectual life in Peru at the time was very limited, with few publishers and bookstores, leading the speaker to question whether it made sense to be a writer in such an environment.
• 😀 The speaker received a scholarship to study in Spain, initially intending to pursue a doctorate, but later moved to Paris where he found work that allowed him to write.
• 😀 He spent many years in Paris before moving to England, where he taught at London universities, such as Queen Mary College and King's College.
• 😀 The speaker was encouraged by Spanish literary friends, particularly Carmen Balsel, to leave his academic job in London and move to Barcelona to live off his writing royalties.
• 😀 He spent five years in Barcelona, which marked a period of reconnection between Spanish and Latin American writers, who had been estranged for forty years.
• 😀 This estrangement was based on the mistaken belief in Latin America that all Spanish writers were aligned with Franco's regime, a misconception that was untrue.
• 😀 The speaker's mother discovered his photo in the Times, a prestigious American magazine his father read, which greatly impressed his father and altered his perception of his son's career.
• 😀 The speaker’s success in reaching such cultural milestones reassured his father, who had initially thought that being a writer was an unusual and impractical choice.

Q & A

Why did the speaker's father send them to a military school?

The speaker's father was horrified by their literary vocation and wanted to discourage them from becoming a writer. He believed that military school, such as Leoncio Prado, would be incompatible with a literary career.

How did the speaker end up becoming a writer despite their father's intentions?

While at the military school, the speaker began writing responses for fellow cadets who received letters from their girlfriends. This experience, where the speaker was hired to respond to the letters, led them to pursue writing more seriously.

What was the state of intellectual life in Peru at the time the speaker was growing up?

In Peru during that period, intellectual life was very poor. There were very few publishing houses, and libraries were scarce.

What led the speaker to move to Spain and then Paris?

The speaker was awarded a scholarship from San Marcos and the Banco Popular to pursue a doctorate in Spain. Later, they moved to Paris, where they found a job that allowed them to write.

How did the speaker's time in England influence their career?

In England, the speaker worked at Queen Mary College and later at King's College in London, teaching at universities while continuing their writing. This period marked an important stage in their academic and literary development.

Who was Carmen Balsel, and how did she impact the speaker's life?

Carmen Balsel, a Spanish literary figure, became a close friend of the speaker. She played a crucial role in convincing the speaker to leave their university position in London and move to Barcelona, where they would live off their royalties and further immerse themselves in the literary world.

What was the significance of the reunion between Spanish and Latin American writers in Barcelona?

The reunion in Barcelona was significant because, for 40 years, Spanish and Latin American writers had been estranged due to political misunderstandings. This gathering allowed them to reconnect and break the misconception that all Spanish writers were aligned with the Franco regime.

How did the speaker's mother react when she discovered their photo in *Times* magazine?

The speaker's mother was surprised and impressed when she found their photo in *Times*, a prestigious American magazine. This was a moment of validation for the speaker's literary career, especially for their father, who had previously viewed writing as a strange profession.

Why was the speaker’s father impressed by the speaker’s inclusion in *Times* magazine?

The speaker's father, who had once discouraged them from pursuing a literary career, was deeply impressed by the recognition. Seeing their photo in *Times*, which he considered the pinnacle of American culture, made him realize the success his child had achieved through writing.

What is the significance of the speaker's journey from Peru to Spain, Paris, and England?

The speaker's journey from Peru to Spain, Paris, and England represents a personal and professional evolution. It highlights the challenges and opportunities they encountered in different cultural and academic environments, ultimately shaping their career as a writer and intellectual.