Renowned Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, who has received the Nobel Prize, has declared that his literary journey of seven decades is coming to a close with the publication of his final novel.
As an addendum to the recently published novel, “I Give You My Silence,” the 87-year-old writer states, “I believe I have completed this book. I would now like to compose an essay on Jean-Paul Sartre, who was my mentor in my youth. This will be my final piece of writing.”
I dedicate my silence is a tribute to Peru and its música criolla, a unique fusion of European waltzes with Afro-Peruvian and Andean elements.
During interviews with Spanish media on Thursday, the author stated that he believed he did not have sufficient time remaining to complete a 21st novel. However, he expressed his desire to continue writing and was determined to finish his essay on Sartre.
The person, who is 87 years old, stated to La Vanguardia that despite being an optimist, they do not believe they will have enough time to write a new novel. This is mainly due to the fact that it takes them three to four years to complete one. However, they have no plans of stopping their work and hope to have the determination to continue until the end.
Vargas Llosa, who lives in Madrid and has dual Peruvian and Spanish citizenship, is the last surviving member of the Latin American literary phenomenon known as el boom, the 1960s and 1970s cultural explosion that introduced the world to the writings of Gabriel García Márquez, Carlos Fuentes, Julio Cortázar and many others.
After his initial book, La ciudad y los perros, was released in 1963, Vargas Llosa continued to explore the dynamics of power in various forms – political, military, racial, economic, social, and sexual. The book drew inspiration from his personal experience at the Lima military academy during the 1950s and served as a reflection of the divided state of Peru at the time, struggling with issues of race, socioeconomic disparities, and geographical divides.
Vargas Llosa further stated that although there has been a lot of interest in his personal life, particularly in regards to his seven-year relationship with socialite Isabel Preysler, he is not bothered or offended by it.
“I will always prioritize my novels, essays, and the culture and liberal ideals that I have dedicated years to defending,” he stated to a gathering of reporters. “Those who are steadfast in their priorities do not waste time on the baseless rumors fabricated by certain elements of the media about my personal life.”
The author, who lost the 1990 Peruvian presidential election to Alberto Fujimori, continues to publicly voice his opinions on politics.
In the past, he hesitantly supported Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of his dishonored, oppressive, and currently incarcerated former opponent, in her unsuccessful bid for the presidency of Peru. He believed she was the better option compared to her competitor, the leftist and traditional union leader and educator, Pedro Castillo.
During the lead-up to the general election in Brazil last year, he stated his support for Jair Bolsonaro instead of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
“The situation involving Bolsonaro is quite complex,” he stated. “As a liberal, it is challenging to tolerate Bolsonaro’s antics. However, if I had to choose between Bolsonaro and Lula, I would definitely choose Bolsonaro. Despite his foolish behavior, he is still preferable to Lula.”
The Nobel prize for literature in 2010 was given to Vargas Llosa, as the committee selected him for his depiction of power structures and powerful imagery portraying an individual’s struggle, rebellion, and downfall.
Source: theguardian.com
