Illescas, Carlos (1918–1998)
Illescas, Carlos (1918–1998)
Carlos Illescas (b. 19 May 1918; d. 1998), Guatemalan poet, considered one of the best in the "Generation of the 1940s" and the Acento literary circle. During the presidency of Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán (1951–1954), he was the president's personal secretary. As a result, Illescas was forced into exile after the 1954 invasion of the country that led to the overthrow of the Arbenz government. He has lived in Mexico City ever since. Illescas is renowned not only as a poet but also as a radio and television scriptwriter, and as a distinguished professor of creative writing. His poetry is characterized by its mixture of classical Castilian language and powerful surrealist metaphor and imagery. His books are Friso de otoño (1958); Ejercicios (1960); Réquiem del obsceno (1963); Los cuentos de Marsias (1973); Manual de simios y otros poemas (1977); El mar es una llaga (1980); and Usted es la culpable (1983).
See alsoArbenz Guzmán, Jacobo .
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Francisco Albizúrez Palma and Catalina Barrios y Barrios, Historia de la literatura guatemalteca, vol. 3 (1987), p. 136.
Arturo Arias