Fabián Dobles
Encyclopedia
Fabián Dobles Rodríguez (January 17, 1918 – March 22, 1997) was a Costa Rica
n writer
and left-wing political activist. A novelist, essayist, and short story writer, Rodríguez achieved international renown as an author dealing with social protest the struggles of the poor.
, but his father, a medical doctor who had trained in the United States
, soon resettled the family in the rural town of Atenas
, in the province of Alajuela
. His father, a very strict and devout Catholic
, intended that he prepare for the priesthood, but a series of incidents, which he would later fictionalize in his last novel, Los años, pequeños días ("Years Like Brief Days"), led him to abandon that career path and to study law at the University of Costa Rica
. At an early age he saw some of his poetry published in Joaquín García Monge
's influential literary magazine Repertorio Americano ("American Repertoire").
Dobles soon became active in left-wing political causes, eventually becoming a leading figure within the Communist Party of Costa Rica
. He worked in the legal department of the state's Child Welfare Agency and later in the Social Security Administration's division for savings and subsidies. Following the quick defeat of the government, to which the communists were allied, in the Costa Rican Civil War
of 1949, the Communist Party was outlawed and Dobles spent time imprisoned. After his release he had difficulty obtaining employment, and over the years worked delivering milk, weaving blankets, and as an administrator for a lumber depot and for a door and window manufacturer. An attempt to participate in the 1957 election as the presidential candidate for the "Socialist Party" was scuttled by the authorities.
Dobles later found work as an English teacher at the Liceo de Costa Rica, and as a professor of social work
at the University of Costa Rica. He was also a correspondent for Novosti
, the Soviet international press agency, and Prensa Latina
, a news agency organized by Cuba
n government. He also worked for the Costa Rican state publisher (Editorial Costa Rica), eventually becoming one of its directors.
Over the course of his career, Dobles published eighteen books, including eight novels, seven collections of short stories, and three tomes of poetry. For his literary production he was awarded the Magón Prize
by the Costa Rican government, the nation's highest award for cultural work, in 1968. Some of the short stories in the collection Historias de Tata Mundo ("Tales of Daddy World") were anthologized by UNESCO
and translated into several languages. The University of Costa Rica published his complete works in five volumes in 1993.
Except for his last novel, Los años, pequeños días, which is autobiographical, most of Dobles's literary work concerns the struggle for subsistence of simple peasants in rural Costa Rica, or else, notably in Ese que llaman pueblo, the plight of the urban poor. Most of this work could be classified coming under the heading of social realism
.
Fabián Dobles married Cecilia Trejos in 1942, and the couple had five daughters. He died in his home in San Isidro
de Heredia
, at the age of 79.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and left-wing political activist. A novelist, essayist, and short story writer, Rodríguez achieved international renown as an author dealing with social protest the struggles of the poor.
Biography
Dobles was born in San Antonio de BelénBelén Canton
Belén is the name of the seventh canton in the province of Heredia in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 12.15 km², and has a population of 21,085. The capital city of the canton is San Antonio...
, but his father, a medical doctor who had trained in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, soon resettled the family in the rural town of Atenas
Atenas
Atenas is the capital city of the canton of Atenas in the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica. It is also the name of the distrito that includes the city. The district of Atenas covers an area of 8.93 km², and has a population of 7,716...
, in the province of Alajuela
Alajuela Province
Alajuela is a province of Costa Rica. It is located in the north-central part of the country, bordering Nicaragua to the north, and clockwise the provinces Heredia, San José, Puntarenas and Guanacaste...
. His father, a very strict and devout Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, intended that he prepare for the priesthood, but a series of incidents, which he would later fictionalize in his last novel, Los años, pequeños días ("Years Like Brief Days"), led him to abandon that career path and to study law at the University of Costa Rica
University of Costa Rica
The University of Costa Rica is a public university in the Republic of Costa Rica, in Central America. Its main campus, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, is located in San Pedro, in the province of San José. It is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious institution of higher learning in...
. At an early age he saw some of his poetry published in Joaquín García Monge
Joaquín García Monge
Joaquín García Monge is considered one of Costa Rica's most important writers. He was born in Desamparados, Costa Rica in 1881 and was educated in both Costa Rica and Chile, where he fell under the influence of the leading literary currents of his time...
's influential literary magazine Repertorio Americano ("American Repertoire").
Dobles soon became active in left-wing political causes, eventually becoming a leading figure within the Communist Party of Costa Rica
Popular Vanguard Party
The People's Vanguard Party, or Popular Vanguard Party is a communist party in Costa Rica. PVP was founded in 1931 as the Workers and Farmers Party, but was soon renamed to the Communist Party of Costa Rica .PVP publishes El Popular.-History:In 1943 the party was renamed as PVP,...
. He worked in the legal department of the state's Child Welfare Agency and later in the Social Security Administration's division for savings and subsidies. Following the quick defeat of the government, to which the communists were allied, in the Costa Rican Civil War
Costa Rican Civil War
The Costa Rican Civil War was the bloodiest event in 20th century Costa Rican history. It lasted for 44 days , during which approximately 2,000 people are believed to have died...
of 1949, the Communist Party was outlawed and Dobles spent time imprisoned. After his release he had difficulty obtaining employment, and over the years worked delivering milk, weaving blankets, and as an administrator for a lumber depot and for a door and window manufacturer. An attempt to participate in the 1957 election as the presidential candidate for the "Socialist Party" was scuttled by the authorities.
Dobles later found work as an English teacher at the Liceo de Costa Rica, and as a professor of social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
at the University of Costa Rica. He was also a correspondent for Novosti
Novosti
Russian International News Agency ' is a Russian state-owned news agency based in the capital Moscow.-Overview:The agency publishes news and information about social-political, economic, scientific and financial subjects on the Internet and via e-mail in the main European languages, as well as in...
, the Soviet international press agency, and Prensa Latina
Prensa Latina
Prensa Latina, legal name Agencia de Noticias Latinoamericana S.A. , is the official state news agency of Cuba, founded in March 1959 shortly after the Cuban Revolution.-Overview:...
, a news agency organized by Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n government. He also worked for the Costa Rican state publisher (Editorial Costa Rica), eventually becoming one of its directors.
Over the course of his career, Dobles published eighteen books, including eight novels, seven collections of short stories, and three tomes of poetry. For his literary production he was awarded the Magón Prize
Magón National Prize for Culture
The Magón National Prize for Culture is a prestigious award given by the government of Costa Rica, through its Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sport, to a Costa Rican citizen in recognition of their life's work in the cultural field...
by the Costa Rican government, the nation's highest award for cultural work, in 1968. Some of the short stories in the collection Historias de Tata Mundo ("Tales of Daddy World") were anthologized by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and translated into several languages. The University of Costa Rica published his complete works in five volumes in 1993.
Except for his last novel, Los años, pequeños días, which is autobiographical, most of Dobles's literary work concerns the struggle for subsistence of simple peasants in rural Costa Rica, or else, notably in Ese que llaman pueblo, the plight of the urban poor. Most of this work could be classified coming under the heading of social realism
Social realism
Social Realism, also known as Socio-Realism, is an artistic movement, expressed in the visual and other realist arts, which depicts social and racial injustice, economic hardship, through unvarnished pictures of life's struggles; often depicting working class activities as heroic...
.
Fabián Dobles married Cecilia Trejos in 1942, and the couple had five daughters. He died in his home in San Isidro
San Isidro Canton
San Isidro is the name of the sixth canton in the province of Heredia in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 26.96 km², and has a population of 17,037. The capital city of the canton is also called San Isidro....
de Heredia
Heredia Province
Heredia is a province of Costa Rica. It is located in the north-central part of the country. As a result, the province covers areas as diverse as the agriculture rich Northern plains of San Carlos as well as the more metropolitan areas like the city of Heredia located in the Central Valley...
, at the age of 79.
External links
- Fabián Dobles Rodríguez, from the Magón Prize website
- El poder de la palabra