Ricardo Piglia
Ricardo Piglia
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Ricardo Eurnekian Piglia was a renowned Argentine novelist, essayist, and scholar. He is often referred to by his pen name, Ricardo Piglia.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on December 17, 1941, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Piglia passed away on January 7, 2017, at the age of 75.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Piglia was Argentine by nationality and a polymath by profession. He worked as a novelist, essayist, scholar, and educator throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Ricardo Piglia grew up in a family that valued literature and learning. His father, Eurnekian Piglia, was an Armenian immigrant who became a successful businessman in Argentina. Ricardo's mother, María Luisa Carriquirry, came from a prominent Argentine family. This blend of cultures had a profound impact on Piglia's writing style, which often explores the complexities of identity and belonging.
Piglia's early life was marked by a love for reading and writing. He devoured books from his father's extensive library and began writing short stories as a teenager. After completing high school, he attended the University of Buenos Aires, where he studied literature and philosophy. During this period, Piglia became involved in the Argentine literary scene, befriending prominent writers such as Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout his career, Piglia achieved numerous accolades for his writing and scholarship. Some of his most notable accomplishments include:
Novelist: Piglia published several novels that explored the complexities of Argentine society, including "The Absent City" (1980) and "Respira, muñeca" (1992).
Essayist: He wrote numerous essays on literature and politics, which were collected in books such as "La invención de la novela" (1986) and "El último lector" (2009).
Scholar: Piglia held positions at several universities, including the University of Buenos Aires and Columbia University. His scholarship focused on Argentine literature, particularly the work of Jorge Luis Borges.Notable Works or Actions
Piglia's body of work is characterized by its intellectual depth and literary innovation. Some notable works include:
"The Absent City": This novel explores the lives of three generations of a Buenos Aires family, delving into themes such as identity, politics, and social change.
"Respira, muñeca": A collection of short stories that examine the relationships between mothers and sons in post-dictatorship Argentina.
"The Last Reader": An essay collection that explores the intersection of literature and politics.
Impact and Legacy
Piglia's work has had a profound impact on Argentine literature and beyond. His writing often explored themes relevant to his country's history, such as authoritarianism, exile, and social change. Through his scholarship and teaching, Piglia influenced generations of writers, scholars, and readers worldwide.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Ricardo Piglia is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
Intellectual depth: His writing and scholarship are characterized by their intellectual rigor, which has made him a respected voice in Argentine literature.
Literary innovation: Piglia's work often pushes the boundaries of literary form and style, making him a leading figure in contemporary Argentine literature.
* Engagement with politics: His writing frequently explores the intersection of literature and politics, providing insights into Argentina's complex history.
Quotes by Ricardo Piglia
People accused him of being unreal, of not having his feet on the ground. But he’d been thinking, the imaginary wasn’t the same as the unreal. The imaginary was the possible, that which is not yet. This projection toward the future contained – at the same time – both what exists and what doesn’t exist. Two poles that continually change places. And the imaginary was this changing of places. He’d been thinking.
Estoy convencido de que nunca nos sucede nada que no hayamos previsto, nada para lo que no estemos preparados. Nos han tocado malos tiempos, como a todos los hombres, y hay que aprender a vivir sin ilusiones.
Pasé un buen día hoy. Fui al cine. Terminé Simbad de Mallea. Le puso ese nombre para no llamarlo Ulises, pero era eso lo que quería contar. Todos los personajes están reventados y hablan gravemente de sus defectos. Ninguno es un canalla, ni un envidioso, todos tienen grandes debilidades. Todos se quieren suicidar, irse a vivir a la selva, abandonan a la mujer de su vida por cuestiones éticas. Son todos introspectivos.
Sie wissen, dass sich dort draußen kein Mensch für Literatur interessiert und sie die letzten Hüter einer glorreichen, in die Krise geratenen Tradition sind.
Un hombre que le cuenta a otro sus aventuras amorosas es un tarado, y si encima es el padre de uno, esa estupidez infantil se convierte en algo siniestro.
Estamos en guerra. Mi táctica bélica puede resumirse en dos principios. Primero, yo sólo ataco cosas que triunfan, en ocasiones espero hasta que lo consiguen. Segundo, yo sólo ataco cuando no voy a encontrar aliados, cuando estoy solo, cuando me comprometo exclusivamente a mí mismo.