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Alejo Carpentierhis life and works
1912. Educated in Paris; studies architecture at Lycee; begins writing at 13. 1921. Goes into journalism when father abandons family. 1924. Editor of Carteles; writes music and theatre criticism; studies black music; his oratorio La Passion Noire is performed in Paris. 1927. Founds avant-guard review Avance - which lasts for only one issue. 1928. Cuba - arrested for political activity against dictator Machado; writes novel Ecue-yamba-O! in seven days in jail; novel later revised then disowned. Escapes to Paris, where he becomes active in avant-guard literary movement with Louis Aragon, Tristan Tzara, and Paul Eluard; works as a journalist and publicist for magazines and radio; absorbs European avant-guard culture, but meanwhile studies Latin-American history, anthropology, and music; writes librettos for operas; association with composer Edgar Varese.
1930s. Visits Berlin, Madrid, and Paris; works as musical director for French radio; works with Maurice Chevalier and Mistinguette; produces Kurt Weil; meets Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and John dos Passos. 1933. Ecue-yamba-O! published. 1939. Returns to Cuba to work in radio; commissioned to write history of Cuban music. 1945. Political problems in Cuba under dictator Batista; Carpentier emigrates to Caracas (Venezuela) to work in an advertising agency. 1946. La musica en Cuba published. 1947. Trip up Orinoco river into the Venezuelan jungle - provides material and background for The Lost Steps. 1949. El reino de este mundo (The Kingdom of this World). 1953. Los pasos perdidos (The Lost Steps) written three times. 1959. Returns to Cuba following Castro's overthrow of the Batista regime; appointed Professor of History of Culture at Havana University. 1962. El siglo de las luces (Explosion in a Cathedral); appointed head of state publishing house. 1966. Appointed cultural attache/ambassador in Paris. 1974. El recurso del metodo (Reason of State) and Concierto barroco published.
1978. La consagracion de la primavera (The Consecration of Spring).
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1904. - Carpentier born in Cuba - father French architect, mother Russian musian; He speaks French, but writes in Spanish.
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