Prominent Peruvians: Mario Vargas Lloas

If, like Victoria, you've studied Literature, you might recognize Mario Vargas Llosa as the winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize for Literature.

If, like me, you studied Latin America, you might recognize Mario Vargas Llosa as the man who lost the 1990 Peruvian presidential election to Alberto Fujimori, the man who would go on to become Peru's most recent dictator.

If you're like most US Americans, you have no idea who Mario Vargas Llosa is. But that's ok, because I'm going to tell you. Vargas Llosa is one of Latin America's most prestigious novelists and essayists. He first became famous in the 60s and his biggest novel of that era was Conversation in the Cathedral. This native of Arequipa and Lima (the two biggest cities in Peru) has written novels in various genres including historical, murder mystery, political thrillers, and comedies. 

As is common for Latin American writers, Vargas Llosa is politically active. His politics have shifted over time from the left toward neoliberalism. When he ran for president, he ran as the candidate of the Frente Democrático, a center right party. His advocacy of neoliberal reforms caused him the election. Ironically, President Fujimori ended up imposing many of the same reforms that lost Vargas Llosa the presidency.

Mario Vargas Llosa's work is difficult to read. He switches between narrators and time periods without warning. If you think you're used to multiple narrators because you read A Song of Ice and Fire, think again. George R. R. Martin puts the narrator's name at the heading of each chapter, and restricts himself to one narrator per chapter. Vargas Llosa doesn't impose these restraints on his writing. But after all, he won the Nobel Prize. You don't win the Nobel Prize for writing like everyone else.*

Vargas Llosa "frequently uses his writing to challenge the inadequacies of society, such as demoralization and oppression by those in political power towards those who challenge this power. One of the main themes he has explored in his writing is the individual's struggle for freedom within an oppressive reality." This theme of oppression and the struggle against is common in Latin America literature.

Mario Vargas Llosa is perhaps the most famous Peruvian who is also popular. Politicians tend to be corrupt (in ways that make corruption US look quaint) and therefore not very popular. Perhaps losing the presidency saved his public image.

In January of 2015 Mario Vargas Llosa took a trip to see the Andean baroque parishes in the valley of Quispicanchi. In case you've forgotten, Andahuaylillas is in Quispicanchi. We happened to be on tour of the parishes that same day. Alfredo, our friend and tour guide, cut off his description of the church to go over and greet a man. He returned and excused himself, "Sorry, but I'm a big admirer of that writer's work." When we heard who he was, we waited outside the next parish on the tour (MVL's group was behind ours) and asked him for a picture. Here it, proof that I have met a Nobel Prize winner:

Victoria's Dad, Erin, Jacqueline, Alfredo, Mario Vargas Llosa, Victoria, and me

Quote from wikipedia article on Mario Vargas Llosa

*The Nobel Prize for Literature isn't like the Nobel Peace Prize. They don't give it out to just anyone. You've got to do something innovative to earn it.