This year marks the centenary of the birth of the Mexican writer Sergio Galindo Márquez, one of the most relevant voices in 20th century literature, whose influence transcends the national sphere and reaches the Latin American literary tradition.
Author of fundamental works, such as Rice powder, The mushroom man, The board y Otilia Rauda –the latter recognized with important awards–, Galindo built a narrative marked by the psychological depth of his characters and a critical look at the social and provincial contexts of Mexico.
Beyond his literary work, he was a decisive promoter of cultural and publishing life in the country. He founded the Veracruzana University Publishing House and the magazine The Word and the Mankey platforms for the dissemination of new voices. In these spaces, Gabriel García Márquez, Álvaro Mutis, Juan Carlos Onetti and Blanca Varela were published for the first time in Mexico, who would mark the course of Latin American literature of the 20th century.
Among the activities scheduled to commemorate the centenary, the presentation of the book stands out Sergio, the imprint of your voiceby José Luis Martínez Morales, researcher and specialist in the work of the short story writer and novelist. This co-edition between Editorial UV and the Veracruzano Literary Institute will be presented next month at the International Mining Book Fair in Mexico City.
At the same meeting, the round table “Tribute to Galindo” will be held, with the participation of representatives from the Universidad Veracruzana and the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature, an institution that Galindo directed in the 70s.
Additionally, during the UV International University Book Fair, in Xalapa, Veracruz, at the end of May, the Sergio Galindo Latin American First Novel Prize will be awarded, created since 2006 to support emerging storytellers from Latin America. Likewise, conversations will be held about the author and his work.
As part of the commemoration, UV Editorial will publish Rice powders, The mushroom man y Otilia Rauda. Left out of this effort are story books and The boardwhose rights belong to the Economic Culture Fund.
Agustín del Moral Tejeda, general director of Editorial UV, highlighted that, in addition to his international relevance as a writer, Galindo maintains a close relationship with the Universidad Veracruzana due to the legacy he left when founding the publishing house and the literary magazine of the university.
“He sought to open a space for the young Latin American authors of his time, who today are references of 20th century Latin American literature. Hence the respect and affection we have for him,” said Del Moral Tejeda.
Galindo (1926-1993) was born in Xalapa, Veracruz. He studied at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, was a scholarship recipient of the Mexican Center of Writers from 1955 to 1956, held various positions in the cultural field, including the general direction of the National Institute of Fine Arts from 1974 to 1976, and in 1975 he joined the Mexican Academy of Language.
Throughout his career he received awards such as the Mariano Azuela (1984), the Xavier Villaurrutia (1986) and the José Fuentes Mares (1987). At the international level he received the distinction of Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire, the Polish Award for Cultural Merit and the Order of the Star of Yugoslavia.
“Rereading Sergio Galindo today is not an exercise in literary nostalgia, but rather a way of understanding a key stage of Mexican literature and the social and emotional mechanisms that continue to shape the public and private life of the country,” concluded the general director of Editorial UV.