Marin Preda
Encyclopedia
Marin Preda was a Romania
n novelist, one of the best-known post-WWII Romanian writers.
Preda was born in Teleorman county, in a village called Siliştea-Gumeşti
, into a family of peasants. He first studied at school in his home village, then schools in Abrud
and Cristur-Odorhei. He moved to Bucharest
in 1940 and became a proofreader at Timpul
("Times") magazine.
His first novella was called Calul ("The Horse"). It was written in 1943 and read in Eugen Lovinescu
's literary circle, Sburătorul ("The Flier"). It was included in his debut volume of 1948, Întâlnirea din pământuri. ("The Meeting between the Lands"). Between 1943 and 1945 he served in the army, which was to inspire some of his later works.
In 1945 he was hired as a proofreader at România liberă ("Free Romania") newspaper, and beginning with 1952 served as an editor at the cultural magazine Viaţa Românească ("Romanian Life"). His novel Moromeţii
, was awarded the State Literature Prize in 1956.
In 1965, he became vice-president of "Uniunea Scriitorilor" (Writers' Union) and in 1970 the director of "Cartea Românească" publishing house, keeping this job until his death. He became a member of the Romanian Academy
in 1974.
In 1954 he married Aurora Cornu; they divorced in 1959. He was married to Eta Vexler, who defected to France in the early 1970s. With his third wife, Elena, a worker about 30 years his junior, he had two sons, Nicolae and Alexandru. Preda's novel Delirium (Delirul) is considered to reflect the attempt to review Ion Antonescu
's role against the background of re-surging nationalist pride in Communist Romania. Here, Antonescu is painted as a tragic figure, who joined Germans, regarding this as the only way to re-gain Bessarabia
. The first edition of the novel quickly sold out.
In 1980, Marin Preda published his last novel, Cel mai iubit dintre pământeni ("The Most Beloved Earthling"), regarded as a violent critique of communism. After a few short weeks on the market, the novel was withdrawn from all public, university, and school libraries and all bookshops. It was not much later, on May 16, 1980, that the novelist died at the Writers' Mansion of Mogoşoaia Palace
. The autopsy
, which took place 24 hours after his death, showed that his blood alcohol concentration was 3.5 BAC, enough to fall into a coma.The official cause of death was violent asphixiation.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n novelist, one of the best-known post-WWII Romanian writers.
Preda was born in Teleorman county, in a village called Siliştea-Gumeşti
Silistea Gumesti
Siliştea Gumeşti is a commune in Teleorman County, Romania. It is composed of a single village, Siliştea Gumeşti. It was called Siliştea Nouă from 1968 to 1996....
, into a family of peasants. He first studied at school in his home village, then schools in Abrud
Abrud
Abrud is a town in the north-western part of Alba County, Transylvania, Romania, located on the river Abrud. It administers three villages: Abrud-Sat, Gura Cornei and Soharu.-Population:...
and Cristur-Odorhei. He moved to Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
in 1940 and became a proofreader at Timpul
Timpul
Timpul is a newspaper published in Romania, originally published as the official platform of the defunct Conservative Party....
("Times") magazine.
His first novella was called Calul ("The Horse"). It was written in 1943 and read in Eugen Lovinescu
Eugen Lovinescu
Eugen Lovinescu was a Romanian modernist literary historian, literary critic, academic, and novelist, who in 1919 established the Sburătorul literary club. He was the father of Monica Lovinescu, and the uncle of Horia Lovinescu, Vasile Lovinescu, and Anton Holban...
's literary circle, Sburătorul ("The Flier"). It was included in his debut volume of 1948, Întâlnirea din pământuri. ("The Meeting between the Lands"). Between 1943 and 1945 he served in the army, which was to inspire some of his later works.
In 1945 he was hired as a proofreader at România liberă ("Free Romania") newspaper, and beginning with 1952 served as an editor at the cultural magazine Viaţa Românească ("Romanian Life"). His novel Moromeţii
Morometii
Moromeţii is a novel by the Romanian author Marin Preda, one which consecrated him as the most important novelist in the post-World War II Romanian literature....
, was awarded the State Literature Prize in 1956.
In 1965, he became vice-president of "Uniunea Scriitorilor" (Writers' Union) and in 1970 the director of "Cartea Românească" publishing house, keeping this job until his death. He became a member of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
in 1974.
In 1954 he married Aurora Cornu; they divorced in 1959. He was married to Eta Vexler, who defected to France in the early 1970s. With his third wife, Elena, a worker about 30 years his junior, he had two sons, Nicolae and Alexandru. Preda's novel Delirium (Delirul) is considered to reflect the attempt to review Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
's role against the background of re-surging nationalist pride in Communist Romania. Here, Antonescu is painted as a tragic figure, who joined Germans, regarding this as the only way to re-gain Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
. The first edition of the novel quickly sold out.
In 1980, Marin Preda published his last novel, Cel mai iubit dintre pământeni ("The Most Beloved Earthling"), regarded as a violent critique of communism. After a few short weeks on the market, the novel was withdrawn from all public, university, and school libraries and all bookshops. It was not much later, on May 16, 1980, that the novelist died at the Writers' Mansion of Mogoşoaia Palace
Mogosoaia Palace
Mogoşoaia Palace is situated about 10 kilometres from Bucharest, Romania. It was built between 1698-1702 by Constantin Brâncoveanu in what is called the Romanian Renaissance style or Brâncovenesc style, a combination of Venetian and Ottoman elements...
. The autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
, which took place 24 hours after his death, showed that his blood alcohol concentration was 3.5 BAC, enough to fall into a coma.The official cause of death was violent asphixiation.
Works
- 1948 - Întâlnirea din pământuri ("The Meeting of the Lands")
- 1949 - Ana Roşculeţ
- 1952 - Desfăşurarea ("The Unfolding")
- 1955 - MoromeţiiMorometiiMoromeţii is a novel by the Romanian author Marin Preda, one which consecrated him as the most important novelist in the post-World War II Romanian literature....
("The Moromete Family") - 1956 - Ferestre întunecate ("Dark Windows")
- 1959 - Îndrăzneala ("The Daring")
- 1962 - Risipitorii ("The Prodigals")
- 1967 - MoromeţiiMorometiiMoromeţii is a novel by the Romanian author Marin Preda, one which consecrated him as the most important novelist in the post-World War II Romanian literature....
, second part - 1968 - Intrusul ("The Intruder")
- 1972 - Imposibila întoarcere ("The Impossible Return")
- 1972 - Marele singuratic ("The Great Loner")
- 1973 - Întâlnirea din pământuri, second edition
- 1975 - Delirul ("The Delirium")
- 1977 - Viaţa ca o pradăViaţa ca o pradăViaţa ca o pradă is a 1977 novel by Romanian author Marin Preda.-Plot summary:The novel depicts the narrator's childhood and adolescence personaju, especially moments spent by him at school....
("Life as a Prey") - 1980 - Cel mai iubit dintre pământeniCel mai iubit dintre pamânteniCel mai iubit dintre pământeni is the last, and perhaps most elaborate, novel by the Romanian author Marin Preda. Written in 1980, it is an intricate fresco of Communist Romania and the horrors of the Stalinist era...
("The Most Beloved of Earthlings")