Hernán Rivera Letelier

Hernán Rivera Letelier (1950, Talca, Chile) is a Chilean novelist. Until the age of 11 he lived in the Algorta saltpeter mining town. When it was closed down, he and his family moved to Antofagasta, where his mother died. His siblings went to live with his aunts. He stayed in Antofagasta, alone, until he was about 11. To survive, he sold newspapers. Later he worked as a messenger for Anglo Lautaro Nirate Company, until his thirst for adventure led him to spend three years traveling in Chile, Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador and Argentina. He returned to Antofagasta in 1973 and began to work at another company, Mantos Blancos. He married a 17-year-old girl when he was 24. Later he left for Pedro de Valdivia, another saltpeter mining town. He completed his seventh and eighth years of study at night school, and at the Inacap educational institute he earned his license as a secondary education instructor. Today he lives in Antofagasta with his wife and four children. He has received the "Premio Consejo Nacional de Libro" (Chilean National Book Award) twice, in 1994 and 1996.

Although his early works consisted of poetry and stories ("Poemas y Pomadas y Cuentos breves" and "Cuescos de brevas"), it was as a novelist that he has had the greatest success, both critical and popular. His books are being translated to several languages and it is possible that film versions will be made.

He dreams of having a literary style which blends "the magic of Juan Rulfo, the marvels of Gabriel García Márquez, the playfulness of Cortázar, the refinement of Carlos Fuentes, and the intelligence of Borges."

Published Works

* "Poemas y pomadas". 1988
* "Cuentos breves y cuesco de brevas".1990
* "La reina Isabel cantaba rancheras". 1994
* "Himno del ángel parado en una pata". 1996
* "Fatamorgana de amor con banda de música". 1998
* "Los trenes se van al Purgatorio". 2000
* "Santa María de las flores negras". 2002