Oscar Hahn
Encyclopedia
Óscar Arturo Hahn Garcés (born 1938 in Iquique
, Chile
)
is a Chilean writer
and poet
. Known in Chile as one of the writers of the Generation of the 70s (also known as the "Dispersed" or "Decimated Generation" - "Generacion Trilce"), Hahn studied at the Pedagogical Institute of Santiago
during his youth. His first steps in poetry can be traced back to his adolescence in Rancagua
.
In 1959 he won the Student Federation of Chile's Prize in Poetry. In the year 1961 he won the Society of Chilean Writers' Alerce Prize for the work This Black Rose (Esta Rosa Negra). In 1967 he won the Unique Prize of the First Contest in Northern Poetry of the University of Chile for the (then) regional seat of Antofagasta
.
He studied and set himself to the University of Chile's Curriculum in the Teaching of Literature while in residence at Arica
. In 1972 he was awarded the degree of Master of Arts
by the University of Iowa
, USA and was named a member of the International Writers' Program there. He returned to Chile
, where he took a job as Adjunct Professor at the University of Chile, Arica
. In the next year, 1973, his life would change dramatically, due to political developments in his home country; on 11 September of that year, during the Chilean coup of 1973
he was detained by the newly-installed military government of Augusto Pinochet
, which had displaced the progressive government of the democratically-elected leader Salvador Allende
.
Later interviewed about his experiences, Hahn remarked: "September 11 is a difficult date for me to forget, not only on account of the things that happened in the country at large but also because they took me prisoner, and they took me as a prisoner the very same night of September 11, which was deadly serious, since in that very moment they were just killing people without even asking them their names, just totally at random. It was a lottery, and I believe that I'm alive thanks to sheer chance, because there were people who were detained with me and they shot them dead; this could just as well happened to me, I don't know what reason took them away, instead of me, or instead of any of the others that survived."
Hahn left Chile in 1974 to set down new roots in the USA. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
by the University of Maryland College Park, and between 1978 and 1988 he collaborated in the composition of the Handbook of Latin American Studies issued by the Library of Congress
, Washington, D.C.
He is a member of the Chilean Academy of Language, and sat on theorganizing committee for the Comités del V Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española (CILE).
Hahn won the Society of Chilean Writers' Alerce Prize, the Municipal Prize of Santiago
,, the Altazor Prize (2003) and the Pablo Neruda Prize (2011) He has taught Latin American literature
at the University of Iowa
.
Iquique
Iquique is a port city and commune in northern Chile, capital of both the Iquique Province and Tarapacá Region. It lies on the Pacific coast, west of the Atacama Desert and the Pampa del Tamarugal. It had a population of 216,419 as of the 2002 census...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
)
is a Chilean 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 poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. Known in Chile as one of the writers of the Generation of the 70s (also known as the "Dispersed" or "Decimated Generation" - "Generacion Trilce"), Hahn studied at the Pedagogical Institute of Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
during his youth. His first steps in poetry can be traced back to his adolescence in Rancagua
Rancagua
Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile, part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago. It had a 2002 population of 214,344...
.
In 1959 he won the Student Federation of Chile's Prize in Poetry. In the year 1961 he won the Society of Chilean Writers' Alerce Prize for the work This Black Rose (Esta Rosa Negra). In 1967 he won the Unique Prize of the First Contest in Northern Poetry of the University of Chile for the (then) regional seat of Antofagasta
Antofagasta
Antofagasta is a port city in northern Chile, about north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. According to the 2002 census, the city has a population of 296,905...
.
He studied and set himself to the University of Chile's Curriculum in the Teaching of Literature while in residence at Arica
Arica
Arica is a city in northern Chile. "Arica" may also refer to:Places* Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile* Arica Airport , Chile* Arica, Amazonas, town in Colombia* Rio Aricá-açu, tributary of the Cuiabá River south of Cuiabá, BrazilOther...
. In 1972 he was awarded the degree of Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
by the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, USA and was named a member of the International Writers' Program there. He returned to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, where he took a job as Adjunct Professor at the University of Chile, Arica
Arica
Arica is a city in northern Chile. "Arica" may also refer to:Places* Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile* Arica Airport , Chile* Arica, Amazonas, town in Colombia* Rio Aricá-açu, tributary of the Cuiabá River south of Cuiabá, BrazilOther...
. In the next year, 1973, his life would change dramatically, due to political developments in his home country; on 11 September of that year, during the Chilean coup of 1973
Chilean coup of 1973
The 1973 Chilean coup d'état was a watershed event of the Cold War and the history of Chile. Following an extended period of political unrest between the conservative-dominated Congress of Chile and the socialist-leaning President Salvador Allende, discontent culminated in the latter's downfall in...
he was detained by the newly-installed military government of Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
, which had displaced the progressive government of the democratically-elected leader Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
.
Later interviewed about his experiences, Hahn remarked: "September 11 is a difficult date for me to forget, not only on account of the things that happened in the country at large but also because they took me prisoner, and they took me as a prisoner the very same night of September 11, which was deadly serious, since in that very moment they were just killing people without even asking them their names, just totally at random. It was a lottery, and I believe that I'm alive thanks to sheer chance, because there were people who were detained with me and they shot them dead; this could just as well happened to me, I don't know what reason took them away, instead of me, or instead of any of the others that survived."
Hahn left Chile in 1974 to set down new roots in the USA. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
by the University of Maryland College Park, and between 1978 and 1988 he collaborated in the composition of the Handbook of Latin American Studies issued by the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He is a member of the Chilean Academy of Language, and sat on theorganizing committee for the Comités del V Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española (CILE).
Hahn won the Society of Chilean Writers' Alerce Prize, the Municipal Prize of Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
,, the Altazor Prize (2003) and the Pablo Neruda Prize (2011) He has taught Latin American literature
Latin American literature
Latin American literature consists of the oral and written literature of Latin America in several languages, particularly in Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous languages of the Americas. It rose to particular prominence globally during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to the...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
Works
- This Black Rose, 1961.
- Final Water, 1967.
- Art of Dying, 1977.
- The Spanish-American Fantasy Story in the 19th Century, 1978.
- Love's Disease, 1981.
- Nuclear Images, 1983.
- Text on Text, 1984.
- Flower of the Enamored , 1987.
- Fixed Stars in a White Sky, 1989.
- Treaty of Sorceries, 1992.
- Stolen Verses, 1995.
- Virtual Anthology, 1996.
- Vicente Huidobro, or the Celestial Attack, 1998.
- The Founders of the Spanish-American Fantasy Tale, 1998.
- Love Poems, 2001.
- Magic of Writing, 2001.
- Profane Appearances, 2001.
- Selected Works, 2003.
- Ashes in Love, 2009.