Ricardo Piglia
Ricardo Piglia (1941-2017) was a renowned Argentine author, critic, and scholar. He introduced hard-boiled fiction to Argentina with his debut short story collection, "La invasión" (1967). Known for his intellectual and allusive crime fiction, Piglia significantly impacted Latin American literature, leaving a lasting influence on writers and scholars[1†][2†].
Early Years and Education
Ricardo Piglia was born on November 24, 1941, in Adrogué, Argentina[1†][2†][3†]. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Mar del Plata, a city where he and his family moved after the fall of Perón, whom his father had supported[1†][3†]. These early years in the coastal city of Mar del Plata likely played a significant role in shaping Piglia’s worldview and literary style[1†][3†].
Piglia’s academic journey began at the National University of La Plata, where he studied history from 1961 to 1962[1†][2†][3†]. This period was crucial in shaping Piglia’s intellectual development and honing his critical thinking skills, which would later become evident in his work[1†][2†][3†].
His passion for literature was evident early on, and he published his first collection of fiction, “La invasión”, in 1967[1†][2†][3†]. This marked the beginning of his illustrious career as a writer[1†][2†][3†].
Career Development and Achievements
After completing his studies at the National University of La Plata, Ricardo Piglia began his writing career. His first collection of short stories, “La invasión”, was published in 1967 and established his reputation as a writer[1†]. His work reflects his interest in crime fiction, although his novels and stories are deliberately intellectual and full of allusions[1†].
Piglia’s subsequent works continued to garner attention and acclaim. His novel “Respiración artificial” (1980; Artificial Respiration) is concerned, in part, with cultural dissidents[1†]. Another novel, “La ciudad ausente” (1992; The Absent City), is set in the near future in Buenos Aires, where electronic and technological advances are accompanied by increased political repression[1†]. His later works include the novel “Blanco nocturno” (2010; “Nocturnal Target”) and the short-story collections “Prisión perpetua” (1988; “Perpetual Prison”) and “Cuentos morales” (1995; “Moral Tales”)[1†].
In addition to his writing, Piglia was a historian of popular culture and wrote about authors such as Jorge Luis Borges, Roberto Arlt, Julio Cortázar, and Manuel Puig[1†]. He also helped promote a series of books, Serie Negra, that reprinted Spanish translations of classic hard-boiled American crime fiction[1†].
Piglia’s academic career was equally impressive. He taught at several institutions, including Harvard and Princeton universities[1†]. At Princeton, he served as the Walter S. Carpenter Professor of Language, Literature, and Civilization of Spain from 2001 until his retirement as professor emeritus in 2011[1†].
First Publication of His Main Works
Ricardo Piglia was a prolific writer, and his works spanned various genres, including novels, short stories, and essays. Here are some of his main works:
- La invasión (1967): This was Piglia’s first collection of fiction, which established his reputation as a writer[2†].
- Respiración artificial (1980): Translated as “Artificial Respiration”, this novel is one of Piglia’s most renowned works. It is concerned, in part, with cultural dissidents[2†][1†].
- La ciudad ausente (1992): Translated as “The Absent City”, this novel is set in the near future in Buenos Aires, where electronic and technological advances are accompanied by increased political repression[2†][1†].
- Blanco nocturno (2010): Translated as “Nocturnal Target”, this novel is one of Piglia’s later works[2†][1†].
- Prisión perpetua (1988): Translated as “Perpetual Prison”, this is a collection of short stories[2†][1†].
- Cuentos morales (1995): Translated as “Moral Tales”, this is another collection of short stories[2†][1†].
In addition to these, Piglia also published several collections of essays, including “Criticism and Fiction” (1986), “Argentina in Pieces” (1993), “Brief Forms” (1999), “Dictionary of the Novel of Macedonio Fernández” (2000), and “The Last Reader” (2005)[2†].
Piglia’s works are known for their intellectual depth and allusions, reflecting his interest in hard-boiled fiction and his influences from American and European authors[2†][1†]. His works have had a significant impact on Argentine literature and have been translated into many languages[2†][1†].
Analysis and Evaluation
Ricardo Piglia’s works are known for their intellectual depth and allusions, reflecting his interest in hard-boiled fiction and his influences from American and European authors[1†]. His works have had a significant impact on Argentine literature and have been translated into many languages[1†].
One of the most notable aspects of Piglia’s work is his ability to blend fact and fiction. This is particularly evident in his novel “Plata quemada” (1997), which is based on a real crime story from 1965[1†]. In this novel, Piglia invents a homoerotic relationship between the two main characters, Dorda and Brignone[1†]. This decision serves a powerful structural function in the novel and allows Piglia to elaborate a modern-day Argentine tragedy that elicits a cathartic reaction in the reader[1†].
Piglia’s works grapple with the meaning of social and political processes, as is evident in the stories collected in the volume “Nombre falso” (1975), translated as “Assumed Name” in 1995[1†][4†]. His fiction reflects his interest in this genre, although his novels and stories are deliberately intellectual and full of allusions[1†].
In addition to his novels and short stories, Piglia was also a respected critic and a historian of popular culture. He wrote about such authors as Jorge Luis Borges, Roberto Arlt, Julio Cortázar, and Manuel Puig[1†]. His critical writings reveal a keen sense of paradox and incongruity, which is also evident in his fiction[1†].
In conclusion, Ricardo Piglia’s works are characterized by their intellectual rigor, their blending of fact and fiction, and their exploration of social and political themes. His works have left a significant impact on Argentine literature and continue to be studied and admired today[1†][4†].
Personal Life
Ricardo Piglia resided for a number of years in the United States, where he taught Latin American literature at Harvard as well as Princeton University[2†]. After retirement, he returned with his wife, Martha “Beba” Eguía, to Argentina[2†][5†]. In 2013, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease[2†]. He passed away from the disease on January 6, 2017, in Buenos Aires, Argentina[2†].
Conclusion and Legacy
Ricardo Piglia, the monumental Argentine writer, was without a doubt one of the great visionaries of Argentine literature[6†]. His work, which includes novels, short stories, and critical essays, has had a profound impact on Latin American literature and intellectual history[6†].
Piglia’s work is characterized by its intellectual rigor and its innovative blending of high and low literary forms[6†]. He was an avid reader of both hardboiled detective fiction and high modernist literature, and his own novels and stories reflect this wide range of influences[6†]. His novel “Artificial Respiration”, first published in Argentina in 1980 during the military dictatorship, opened up the unforeseen possibility of writing simultaneously with Borges and beyond Borges[6†].
Piglia’s legacy also extends to his work as a critic and scholar. He wrote extensively about authors such as Jorge Luis Borges, Roberto Arlt, Julio Cortázar, and Manuel Puig[6†][1†]. He also helped promote a series of books, Serie Negra, that reprinted Spanish translations of classic hard-boiled American crime fiction[6†][1†].
During his years at Princeton University, Piglia was a dynamic and committed member of the department and of the Program in Latin American Studies[6†][4†]. He taught memorable undergraduate and graduate seminars and made invaluable contributions to the intellectual productivity of students and colleagues[6†][4†].
After his death in 2017, his memory was honored in New York City at “Modos infinitos de narrar: Homenaje a Ricardo Piglia,” an event at which academics discussed the impact of his work on Latin American literature and intellectual history and his legacy as a literary critic and scholar[6†][2†].
Key Information
- Also Known As: Unknown
- Born: November 24, 1941, in Adrogué, Argentina[1†][2†]
- Died: January 6, 2017, in Buenos Aires, Argentina[1†][2†]
- Nationality: Argentine[1†][2†]
- Occupation: Author, critic, and scholar[1†][2†]
- Notable Works: “La invasión” (1967), “Respiración artificial” (1980; Artificial Respiration), “La ciudad ausente” (1992; The Absent City), and “Blanco nocturno” (2010; Nocturnal Target)[1†][2†]
- Notable Achievements: Introduced hard-boiled fiction to the Argentine public[1†][2†], taught Latin American literature at Harvard and Princeton Universities[1†][2†], served as the Walter S. Carpenter Professor of Language, Literature, and Civilization of Spain at Princeton University from 2001 until his retirement as professor emeritus in 2011[1†][2†].
References and Citations:
- Britannica - Ricardo Piglia: Argentine author and critic [website] - link
- Wikipedia (English) - Ricardo Piglia [website] - link
- The Modern Novel - Ricardo Piglia [website] - link
- Princeton University - Office of the Dean of the Faculty - Ricardo Emilio Piglia [website] - link
- Princeton University - Ricardo Piglia, celebrated Latin American writer who had a 'profound impact' on students, dies at 76 [website] - link
- Literary Hub - Carlos Fonseca on the Legacy of Ricardo Piglia ‹ Literary Hub [website] - link
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply.
Ondertexts® is a registered trademark of Ondertexts Foundation, a non-profit organization.