Carlos Solórzano Fernández (May 6, 1922 – March 30, 2011) was a Guatemalan-born Mexican playwright. He is considered one of the most important playwrights in Guatemalan history. His contribution to the theater in Latin America range from his plays to articles in theater journals and encyclopedias, and essays related to the history and anthology of Latin theater.

Biography

Carlos Solórzano was born in 1919 to a wealthy family in San Marcos in Guatemala. In 1939 Carlos Solórzano moved to Mexico. In 1945 he graduated from the

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México The National Autonomous University of Mexico (, UNAM) is a public university, public research university in Mexico. It has several campuses in Mexico City, and many others in various locations across Mexico, as well as a presence in nine countri ...

as an architect, as a master and doctor of letters 1946–1948. His first play, ''Espejo de novelas'', was penned in 1946. In 1948, a grant from the

Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation is an American private foundation and philanthropic medical research and arts funding organization based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The foundation was created by Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller (" ...

permitted him to study drama at Sorbonne, Paris, France. During his studies in France, he became acquainted with many prominent men of letters such as Camus and Ghelderode and their influence and dramatic style would be a major influence in his later works as indeed in increasing his interest in theatrical subjects in general. Solórzano returned to

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

. He began writing a number of plays, some of which are important to Mexican theatre today. ''Doña Beatriz, la sin ventura'' (1954), ''El hechicero'' (1954), ''Las manos de Dios'' (1957), ''El crucificado'' (1957), ''Los fantoches'' (1959), ''Tres actos'' (1959) are amongst his notable works in the 1950s. His play ''El crucificado'', is a reenactment of

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. A number of his works are

allegorical As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory throughou ...

ranging from political allegories with hidden agendas to explorations of the reason for man's existence. Solórzano represented Mexico in the first playwrighting workshop in Puerto Rico in 1960 and in 1963 was representative of Mexico's Festival of Theater of Nations in Paris with his work ''Los fantoches''. He attended the XI Congreso de Literatura Iberoamericana in

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. Solórzano is a recipient of the Miguel Ángel Asturias Award (Premio Nacional de Literatura 'Miguel Ángel Asturias') given to those who excel in literature in Guatemala. He was awarded this honor in 1989. Solórzano was an active university lecturer and director. He has served as the director of the Teatro Universitario as well as the director of the Museo Nacional de Teatro. He has lectured in several universities in the United States including

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, the

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, and the

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. He was a professor at the Autonomous University of Latin America, and an editor of the theatrical encyclopedia, ''Enciclopedia Mundial del Teatro Contemporaneo'', before he died in 2011. Solórzano died in Mexico City, on March 30, 2011.

Plays

* ''Espejo de Novelas'' (1946) * ''Doña Beatriz, la sin ventura'' (1954) * ''El hechicero'' (1954) * ''Las manos de Dios'' (1957) * '' El Crucificado'' (1957) * ''Mea culpa'' (1958) * ''Los fantoches de andalucia'' (1959) * ''Cruce de vías'' (1959) * ''Tres actos'' (1959) * ''Los falsos demonios'' (1963) * ''El zapato'' (1971) * ''El sueño del angel''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solorzano. Carlos 1922 births 2011 deaths People from San Marcos Department Mexican male dramatists and playwrights Guatemalan dramatists and playwrights Guatemalan male writers Guatemalan emigrants to Mexico 20th-century Mexican dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Mexican male writers