Guillermo Meneses
Encyclopedia
Guillermo Meneses Venezuelan writer, playwright, journalist, author of La Balandra 'Isabel' llegó esta tarde and Campeones, among other works.
Were his parents, Olegario Meneses Díez and Matilde Amitesarove Lopéz-Méndez; Meneses was raised by his father and his aunt Gertrudis Amitesarove, a distinguished educator. Attended primary school at the Chaves School and the San Pablo Institute, received his high school degree at the San Ignacio de Loyola School of Caracas. His passion for literature is expressed from early age, collaborating as writer at the Élite magazine from 1930.
In 1934, the Association of Writers of Venezuela publishes his first short story, La Balandra Isabel llegó esta tarde, written when he was sixteen. In 1935, graduates as Doctor in Political and Juridical Sciences at the Central University of Venezuela
. Combines his professional activities with the literary work. Worked as General Solicitor of Miranda state, prosecutor of the Public Ministry in Guárico, judge in the criminal court of Anzoátegui and raporter of the Supreme Court of Guárico.
In the 1940s, continued contributing in important newspapers and publications of Venezuela
and Latin America, some of them, the National Magazine of Culture (from 1941), El Nacional
(from 1945) and the Magazine of America, Bogotá
, 1946. In 1948 following the coup d´etat that overthrown President Rómulo Gallegos
, Meneses along with his family, exiles in Bogotá, working for the Colombian magazine "Sábado".
Winner of the short story competition of "Elite" magazine, with Campeones in 1939, published three years later, El mestizo José Vargas, La mujer, el As de Oros y la Luna in 1948, and La mano junto al muro, 1951. Also, was second secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, commissioned to Paris (1948–1953), Chargé d' Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela in Brussels (1953–1957) and at the Embassy of Venezuela in Paris (1957–1959).
Winner of the "Arístides Rojas Prize" in 1952, with El Falso Cuaderno de Narciso Espejo, worked from 1954, at the Papel Literario of El Nacional
, and was Director of the Élite magazine. In 1963, received the Municipal Prize of Prose for the novel La Misa de Arlequín. In 1964, was appointed as director of the magazine of the Municipal Council of Caracas, "Crónica de Caracas" (Caracas Chronicles).
During his life, wrote with the pseudonyms “Juan de Caracas” and “José de las Gradillas”. Was author of Libro de Caracas (1967), and official historian of Caracas from 1965 until his death. Guillermo Meneses was awarded with the Venezuelan National Prize for Literature
in 1967, the "Order of the city of Caracas", "Andrés Bello Order", created by President Rafael Caldera
, among other recognitions.
Guillermo Meneses was married for twenty years (1944–1964) to journalist and art promoter Sofía Ímber. With her, traveled to Europe as member of the Venezuelan diplomatic corps, establishing relationship with a group of Venezuelan artists, under the name of (The Dissidents), some of them Jesus Soto, Mateo Manaure, Narciso Deburg, and European artists such as Herbin, Vasarely, Arp, among others.
Were his parents, Olegario Meneses Díez and Matilde Amitesarove Lopéz-Méndez; Meneses was raised by his father and his aunt Gertrudis Amitesarove, a distinguished educator. Attended primary school at the Chaves School and the San Pablo Institute, received his high school degree at the San Ignacio de Loyola School of Caracas. His passion for literature is expressed from early age, collaborating as writer at the Élite magazine from 1930.
In 1934, the Association of Writers of Venezuela publishes his first short story, La Balandra Isabel llegó esta tarde, written when he was sixteen. In 1935, graduates as Doctor in Political and Juridical Sciences at the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
. Combines his professional activities with the literary work. Worked as General Solicitor of Miranda state, prosecutor of the Public Ministry in Guárico, judge in the criminal court of Anzoátegui and raporter of the Supreme Court of Guárico.
In the 1940s, continued contributing in important newspapers and publications of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and Latin America, some of them, the National Magazine of Culture (from 1941), El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
(from 1945) and the Magazine of America, Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, 1946. In 1948 following the coup d´etat that overthrown President Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo Gallegos Freire was a Venezuelan novelist and politician. For a period of some nine months during 1948, he was the first cleanly elected president in his country's history....
, Meneses along with his family, exiles in Bogotá, working for the Colombian magazine "Sábado".
Winner of the short story competition of "Elite" magazine, with Campeones in 1939, published three years later, El mestizo José Vargas, La mujer, el As de Oros y la Luna in 1948, and La mano junto al muro, 1951. Also, was second secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, commissioned to Paris (1948–1953), Chargé d' Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela in Brussels (1953–1957) and at the Embassy of Venezuela in Paris (1957–1959).
Winner of the "Arístides Rojas Prize" in 1952, with El Falso Cuaderno de Narciso Espejo, worked from 1954, at the Papel Literario of El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
, and was Director of the Élite magazine. In 1963, received the Municipal Prize of Prose for the novel La Misa de Arlequín. In 1964, was appointed as director of the magazine of the Municipal Council of Caracas, "Crónica de Caracas" (Caracas Chronicles).
During his life, wrote with the pseudonyms “Juan de Caracas” and “José de las Gradillas”. Was author of Libro de Caracas (1967), and official historian of Caracas from 1965 until his death. Guillermo Meneses was awarded with the Venezuelan National Prize for Literature
National Prize for Literature (Venezuela)
The National Prize for Literature is a literary award made annually to Venezuelan writers.* 1948 Mario Briceño Iragorry...
in 1967, the "Order of the city of Caracas", "Andrés Bello Order", created by President Rafael Caldera
Rafael Caldera
Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez was president of Venezuela from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1994 to 1999.Caldera taught sociology and law at various universities before entering politics. He was a founding member of COPEI, Venezuela's Christian Democratic party...
, among other recognitions.
Guillermo Meneses was married for twenty years (1944–1964) to journalist and art promoter Sofía Ímber. With her, traveled to Europe as member of the Venezuelan diplomatic corps, establishing relationship with a group of Venezuelan artists, under the name of (The Dissidents), some of them Jesus Soto, Mateo Manaure, Narciso Deburg, and European artists such as Herbin, Vasarely, Arp, among others.