Carlos Fuentes Biography

Carlos Fuentes was a Mexican diplomat, novelist, scholar and critic famous for his experimental novels. He was one of Mexico’s most celebrated novelists and the recipients of many prestigious literary awards, the most notable being the ‘Miguel de Cervantes Prize.’ He had a profound influence on the Latin American Boom, a literary movement in the 1960’s and 70’s wherein writers from that area explored new ideas in literature and poetry. Fuentes’s father was a diplomat who was often transferred to different locations over many continents. As a result, the young Carlos had the experience of traveling extensively all over North America, South America and Europe. This enabled him to view Latin America from the eyes of a critical outsider. He also acquired a respect for different national cultures and realized the role of a shared heritage among Latin nations as a strong unifying force. As a youngster he had a keen interest in reading and writing, and always dreamed of being a writer—a dream he held on to even after entering a diplomatic career due to parental pressure. He realized his dream in 1958 with the publication of his very first novel ‘Where the Air Is Clear’, which became an instant classic. He went on to write many other novels, short stories and essays, which established his name as one of the most admired authors in Latin American literature.