Gioconda Belli
Encyclopedia
Gioconda Belli is an author, novelist and renowned Nicaraguan poet.
descent, was an active participant in the Sandinista
struggle against the Somoza
dictatorship, and her work for the movement led to her being forced into exile
in Mexico
in 1975. Returning in 1979 after the Sandinista victory, in 1982 she became FSLN's international press liaison, the director of State Communications in 1984. During that time she met Charles Castaldi, an American NPR
journalist
, whom she married in 1987. She has been living in both Managua
and Los Angeles
since 1990. She has since left the FSLN and is now a major critic of the current government.
, Spain
and studied advertising and journalism in Philadelphia.
Belli has four children: Maryam, Melissa, Camilo and Adriana.
. The novel follows two parallel stories: the indigenous resistance to the Spanish and modern insurgency in Central America with various points in common: women's emancipation, passion, and a commitment to liberation. In 2000, she published her autobiography
, emphasizing her involvement in the revolutionary movement, El país bajo mi piel, published under the name The Country Under My Skin in the United States; it was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in 2003. Belli continues publishing and maintains that poetry is her most important work. Belli was the recipient of the Premio de Poesía Mariano Fiallos Gil in 1972 and of the prestigious Premio Casa de las Américas in 1978. In 2008 Belli received the Biblioteca Breve Award for her book El infinito en la palma de la mano (Infinity in the Palm of The Hand), allegory
about Adam and Eve
in paradise.
Belli's books have been published in numerous languages.
Her most recent work was submitted with the title "Cronicas de la Izquierda Erótica", but had to be changed to "El País de las Mujeres", since the previous title belonged to an award winning book by Ana María Rodas
: Poemas de la Izquierda Erótica, published in 1973. The book tells the story of a world governed by women. In the novel she portraits a group of women that take power by means of a Political Party by the name of "Partido de la Izquierda Erotica". Curiously, this is the same name as a movement formed by women during the 80s, to which Belli belonged, which had been named as a tribute to Rodas´ work, a decade before and her cat's name is Nicanor.
Gioconda Belli's 'El país bajo mi piel'
Early life
Gioconda Belli, of Northern ItalianItalian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
descent, was an active participant in the Sandinista
Sandinista National Liberation Front
The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
struggle against the Somoza
Somoza
The Somoza family was an influential political dynasty who ruled Nicaragua as an hereditary dictatorship. Their influence exceeded their combined 43 years in the de facto presidency, as they were the power behind the other presidents of the time through their control of the National Guard...
dictatorship, and her work for the movement led to her being forced into exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1975. Returning in 1979 after the Sandinista victory, in 1982 she became FSLN's international press liaison, the director of State Communications in 1984. During that time she met Charles Castaldi, an American NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, whom she married in 1987. She has been living in both Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
since 1990. She has since left the FSLN and is now a major critic of the current government.
Education and Kids
Belli graduated from the Royal School of Santa Isabel in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and studied advertising and journalism in Philadelphia.
Belli has four children: Maryam, Melissa, Camilo and Adriana.
Recognition
In 1988, Belli's book La Mujer Habitada (The Inhabited Woman), a semi-autobiographical novel that raised gender issues for the first time in the Nicaraguan revolutionary narratives, brought her increased attention; this book has been published in several languages and was on the reading list at four universities in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The novel follows two parallel stories: the indigenous resistance to the Spanish and modern insurgency in Central America with various points in common: women's emancipation, passion, and a commitment to liberation. In 2000, she published her autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, emphasizing her involvement in the revolutionary movement, El país bajo mi piel, published under the name The Country Under My Skin in the United States; it was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in 2003. Belli continues publishing and maintains that poetry is her most important work. Belli was the recipient of the Premio de Poesía Mariano Fiallos Gil in 1972 and of the prestigious Premio Casa de las Américas in 1978. In 2008 Belli received the Biblioteca Breve Award for her book El infinito en la palma de la mano (Infinity in the Palm of The Hand), allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
about Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve were, according to the Genesis creation narratives, the first human couple to inhabit Earth, created by YHWH, the God of the ancient Hebrews...
in paradise.
Belli's books have been published in numerous languages.
Her most recent work was submitted with the title "Cronicas de la Izquierda Erótica", but had to be changed to "El País de las Mujeres", since the previous title belonged to an award winning book by Ana María Rodas
Ana María Rodas
Ana Maria Rodas is a Guatemalan journalist and poet. Rodas published her first book of poems in 1973. In 1990, she received first prize in poetry from the Certamen de Juegos Florales Mexico, Centroamerica y el Caribe. In 2000, she was awarded the Guatemala National Prize in Literature.-External...
: Poemas de la Izquierda Erótica, published in 1973. The book tells the story of a world governed by women. In the novel she portraits a group of women that take power by means of a Political Party by the name of "Partido de la Izquierda Erotica". Curiously, this is the same name as a movement formed by women during the 80s, to which Belli belonged, which had been named as a tribute to Rodas´ work, a decade before and her cat's name is Nicanor.
Awards
- XXVIII "City of Melilla" International Poetry Award.
- "Mariano Fiallos Gil de Poesía" award, Nicaragua 1972.
- "Casa de las Americas" award, Cuba, Poesía 1978.
- Award of the "Fundación de Libreros, Bibliotecarios" and "Editores Alemanes de la Fundación Friederich Ebhert" in 1989 for La Mujer Habitada, the "best political novel of the year"
- "Anna Seghers de la Academia de Artes de Alemania" award, 1989.
- "Luchs del Semanario Die Zeit a su libro" award for El Taller de las Mariposas, 1992.
- Medal of recognition of the National Theater of Nicaragua for 25 years of cultural labor.
- "Internacional de Poesía Generación del 27" award, 2002
- "Pluma de Plata" award, Bilbao, 2005.
- "Biblioteca Breve Award", 2008.
- "Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Award" for "best novel", International Book Fair in Gudalajara, 2008
Published work
- Verse Sobre la grama (1972)
- Línea de fuego (1978)
- Truenos y arco iris (1982)
- Amor insurrecto (1985)
- De la costilla de Eva (1987)
- La mujer habitada (1988)
- Poesía reunida (1989)
- Sofía de las presagios (1990)
- El ojo de la mujer (1991)
- Sortilegio contra el frío (1992)
- El taller de las mariposas (1994)
- Waslala (1996)
- El país bajo mi piel (2001)
- El pergamino de la seducción (2005)
- El infinito en la palma de la mano (2008)
External links
- Gioconda Belli's Official Website in Spanish
- Gioconda Belli's Official Website in English
- - A short biography
- Blackbird's Nest — "Decorated Poet to Speak on Campus"
- Blackbird's Nest — "Gioconda Belli Talks About Forbidden Fruit"
- Poems by Gioconda Belli
- The Times Online review
- A conversation with Gioconda Belli
Gioconda Belli's 'El país bajo mi piel'