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Jorge Louis Borges - 1899-1986

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Although he never wrote a novel, Jorge Luis Borges is considered one of Argentinas greatest writers. He specialized in short stories, poems and essay that have been reprinted for years not only in his native country but all around the world. He had a innovative style and amazing concepts so he has been imitated but never equalled by many writers.

Born in Buenos Aires, and from a middle class family with a military background, Borges, speak English from an early age and when the family moved to Switzerland during the first world war, he also learned French and German. When he returned to Buenos Aires, he established literary journals and wrote the first of his epic poems, called Martin Fierro. After that, he followed with even more volumes of poetry. In the 1930s, he began writing short stories which became very famous and was responsible for Latin American literature taking a new direction. He manage to make it through the Peron regime noticed but left alone and he continued writing. By the 1960s, he had a world wide following and would spend months in the United States and Europe lecturing and writing. Even with failing eyesight in his old age, he continued to write poetry while having to dictate the words. Borges published into the 1970s but became involved in politics when the Perons came back to power. Since he was famous, he was left alone.
Borges eventually moved to Switzerland and died there.

While Borges isnt the easiest writer to read because his work can be difficult and rather dense in nature, his influence over Latin American writers and writers worldwide makes him one of the best loved Argentine writers of all time.


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