Jorge Edwards Valdes (1931) is a Chilean writer, journalist, literary critic and diplomat considered one of the most important of the 20th and 21st centuries. The literary work of this Chilean intellectual has spanned several genres, including: the novel, the short story, and newspaper articles..
Jorge Edwards' literary production was characterized by a clear and precise language, loaded with reflection and depth. The texts of this writer were separated from the rural theme that prevailed in the mid-twentieth century, to focus on stories of the city. This author has exhibited content about his life, society, art and politics.
Edwards has been a prolific writer, his literary work is abundant and current. The most prominent titles of this intellectual are: The weight of the night, The stone guests, The imaginary woman, The patio Y Phantom of flesh and blood. Jorge's quality as a writer has earned him several recognitions, including the National Prize for Literature in 1994.
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Jorge was born on June 29, 1931 in the city of Santiago de Chile. The writer came from a cultured family with a good socioeconomic position. His parents were: Sergio Edwards Irarrázabal and Carmen Valdés Lira. Jorge Edwards had four older brothers named: Carmen, Laura, Angélica and Luis Germán.
Jorge Edwards began his studies in 1936 at the Colegio San Ignacio in his hometown. From an early age he showed a taste for literature and reading. So Edwards released his first writings in the school environment, he did it with the text "The advantages of navigation and Christopher Columbus".
After finishing high school, Jorge began studying law in 1950 at the University of Chile. During that time he continued to develop his literary talent and devoted himself to writing constantly.
Jorge published his first book in 1952 when he was still a university student. The work was titled The backyard and it belonged to the genre of stories. This work consisted of eight stories, which dealt with various topics. The book was well received by literary critics and the general public.
Once Jorge Edwards completed his specialization in political science at Princeton University, he began his diplomatic career in 1962. In such a way that he was appointed to Paris as secretary of the embassy of his country.
Before traveling to France, the writer received the Santiago Municipal Prize for Literature. The award was given to him for the work City people (1961). However, Jorge's stay in Paris lasted until 1967, that year he was appointed representative of the Chilean Foreign Affairs portfolio in Eastern Europe
Edwards traveled to Cuba in the early 1970s to take over the Chilean embassy in Havana. The experience was not entirely positive, this was due to the open support that he expressed towards the intellectuals who were against the government of Fidel Castro. For this reason, the Cuban regime designated him as a person not welcome..
Jorge's diplomatic career came to a halt in 1973 when Augusto Pinochet gave the Military Coup to Salvador Allende. So the writer went to Spain as an exile and settled in Barcelona. There he devoted himself fully to literature and journalistic work. In addition, the author got a job at the Seix Barral publishing house.
During his stay in Spain, Edwards published three of his most recognized works. Such titles were: Persona non grata, From the dragon's tail Y The stone guests. The author was recognized with the World Essay Award for From the tail of the dragon in 1977.
The intellectual returned to his native country in 1978 after a five-year absence. Jorge quickly integrated into the cultural and social environment of the time. During the dictatorial regime, Edwards was part of the Committee for the Defense of Freedom of Expression. On the other hand, the writer received the Guggenheim Scholarship to continue his literary legacy.
Subsequently, the author published The wax museum in 1981, a work with political overtones. Four years later Jorge released the novel The imaginary woman. The writer continued to support the cause of freedom with his participation in the creation of the Independents for Democratic Consensus movement in 1988..
Jorge resumed his diplomatic career after the fall of the Pinochet dictatorship. The government of President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (1994-2000) appointed him representative of Unesco between 1994 and 1996.
The writer published the following works in the 1990s: Goodbye poet: Pablo Neruda and his time, Ghosts of flesh and blood Y The origin of the world.
The last years of Edwards's life have elapsed between the publication of his literary works, cultural events, awards reception and some diplomatic work. Some of the most current works of the author are: The useless of the family, The last sister, Infiltrated Prosas Y Oh malignant.
On the other hand, the writer has won the following awards: ABC Cultural and Cultural Scope Award, González Ruano Journalism Award and the Grand Cross of the Order of Alfonso X el Sabio. Regarding his personal life, Jorge continues married to Pilar Fernández de Castro Vergara who is the mother of his two children: Ximena and Jorge.
- Municipal Prize for Literature of Santiago in 1962.
- Athena Prize in 1965 awarded by the University of Concepción, for the work The weight of the night.
- First Prize Pedro de Oña in 1969.
- Municipal Prize for Literature of Santiago in 1970, for the work Awards and variations.
- World Essay Award in 1977, for From the tail of the dragon.
- Guggenheim Scholarship in 1979.
- Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in 1985 (France).
- Comillas Award in 1990 (Spain) for Goodbye poet.
- Municipal Prize for Literature of Santiago in 1991, for Goodbye poet.
- First Atenea Prize in 1994 awarded by the University of Concepción, for Ghosts of flesh and blood.
- National Prize for Literature in 1994.
- Cervantes Prize in 1999.
- Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1999 (France).
- Order of Merit Gabriela Mistral in 2000.
- Finalist for the Altazor Award in 2005, for The useless of the family.
- José Nuez Martín Award in 2005, for The useless of the family.
- Planeta Casa de América Award in 2008, for Dostoevsky's house.
- First Prize in Literature from the Cristóbal Gabaldón Foundation in 2009 (Spain).
- ABC Cultural and Cultural Environment Award in 2010.
- González Ruano Award for Journalism in 2011.
- Grand Cross of the Order of Alfonso X the Wise in 2016.
Jorge Edwards' literary style was characterized by reflecting the way of life of the cities of Chile, especially the capital. In addition, the author had the ability and knowledge to deal with issues of a political, social, cultural and artistic nature. The writer used a clear and precise language, but at the same time expressive, thoughtful and profound.
In this video you can see a brief interview with Jorge Edwards:
- The weight of the night (1967).
- The stone guests (1978).
- The wax museum (nineteen eighty one).
- The imaginary woman (1985).
- The host (1987).
- The origin of the world (nineteen ninety six).
- The dream of history (2000).
- The useless of the family (2004).
- Dostoevsky's house (2008).
- Montaigne's death (2011).
- The discovery of painting (2013).
- The last sister (2016).
- Oh malignant (2019).
Consisting of the following stories:
- "The gift".
- "A new experience".
- "The Lord".
- "The Virgin of Wax".
- "The fishes".
- "The exit".
- "Mrs. Rosa".
- "The disgrace".
The work was made up of:
- "The official".
- "The sky on Sundays".
- "Rosaura".
- "Adrift".
- "The end of summer".
- "Fatigue".
- "Note".
- "The last day".
This work consisted of eight stories:
- "After the procession"
- "The experience".
- "Griselda".
- "Goodbye Luisa".
- "Sundays at the sponsorship".
- "The Zulus".
- "News from Europe".
- "The order of families".
The work was made up of the following stories:
- "The shadow of Huelquiñur".
- "Irene's foot".
- "Imperfect creations".
- "Happy Birthday".
- "The night of Montpamasse".
- "The friend Juan".
- "My name is Ingrid Larsen".
- "In memoriam".
- The whiskey of the poets (1997).
- Dialogues on a roof: chronicles and portraits (2003).
- Infiltrated prose (2017).
- Themes and Variations: Short Story Anthology (1969).
- Complete stories (1990).
- Persona non grata (1973). Work on his experience as a Chilean diplomat in Cuba.
- From the tail of the dragon (1977). Test.
- Goodbye poet: Pablo Neruda and his time (1990). Biography.
- Machado de Assis (2002). Text about the life and work of the Brazilian writer Joaquín Machado.
- The Other House: Essays on Chilean Writers (2006).
- Purple circles (2012). Memories.
- Slaves to the slogan (2018). Memories.
“Two travelers, John H. Nicholson and Samuel E. Hill, arrived at the same time, but each on their own, at the Central Hotel in Boscobel, Wisconsin, United States, in March 1898. As no single rooms were available, they agreed to share a room with two beds ...
“Upon discovering that both were Christians, they prayed together that night, and the Lord enlightened them to organize an association of Christian travelers, which they decided to baptize with the name" Gideons ", in honor of the biblical character Gideon, head of a small group of men dedicated to serving God ".
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