Known as the “father of Latin American literature,” Borges is one of the most influential writers of all time. Although he never wrote a novel, throughout the life of Jorge Luis Borges, his short stories, poems, essays, and overall writing style were the inspiration for other famous Latin American writers such as Gabriel García Marquez and Julio Cortázar.
Even though his eyesight started failing in his 30s and he was totally blind by age 55, Borges managed to create one of the most uniquely imaginative writing styles of all time. He blends elements of all genres in his works, from philosophical undertones to sci-fi to detective stories to fantasy.
Enjoy!
Biography
Jorge Luis Borges was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on August 24, 1899.
Young Jorge was raised in a middle-class, bilingual Argentine household where Spanish & English were spoken fluently. Even as a child, Borges was bookish; the family had a collection of over 1,000 books (in both languages), and he would later say, “If I were asked to name the chief event in my life, I should say my father’s library.”
In 1914, the family moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where Borges learned French, Latin, and German while finishing his education. They lived in neutral Switzerland during WWI and moved around Spain for a few years afterward.
In 1921, the family returned to Buenos Aires, where Borges began his attempts at writing. Around this time, his eyesight began failing due to a genetic condition. When he could not read and write anymore, he verbally dictated his stories to his mother, who would then write them down.
Throughout the 1930s and ’40s, Borges started publishing short fiction, the genre which would make him famous. His first two collections were combined into Ficciones (1944), and five years later, Borges published El Aleph (1949). These particular pieces stand out as his most renowned and celebrated.
During WWII, Borges publicly supported the Allies and democracy. The dictatorship of Argentina consequently stripped him of his job and subjected him to constant police surveillance. However, Borges’ popularity as a lecturer was rising during this time, specifically on American literature.
Borges remained relatively obscure on the global stage until 1961 when he was awarded the Prix Formentor Prize for outstanding literary achievement. The accolade marked a turning point in his career, leading to immediate translations of his works, lecture tours around the United States & Europe, and a position as the director of the Argentine National Library.
Although nominated multiple times, he was never awarded the Nobel Prize. It is rare that an author as distinguished as Borges never received the honor, and commonly believed the committee passed him up for political reasons.
Borges moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1985, where he died of liver cancer on June 14, 1986.
Influences
Borges’ experience with blindness (starting in his late 20s) profoundly influenced his writing, and he often explored metaphysical ideas, including the nature of time, space, and identity. His stories frequently blur the lines between reality and fiction, challenging readers to question their perceptions of the world. These concepts can be found in stories such as “Borges and I,” “The Circular Ruins,” and “The Aleph.”
Additionally, Borges incorporated his interests in history and literature into his stories. At age 9, Borges’ translation of Oscar Wilde’s “The Happy Prince” was published in the local paper, and he eventually translated many famous works into Spanish, including Walt Whitman, Edgar Allan Poe, James Joyce, William Faulkner, Virginia Woolf, and Franz Kafka. A spectacular blend of fictional storytelling with historical and literary context can be found in stories like “The Immortal,” “The House of Asterion,” “Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote,” and “Shakespeare’s Memory.”
Finally, Borges’ extensive travels and exposure to diverse cultures provided him with a broad perspective, enriching his stories with multicultural influences. Raised in a multilingual household with a British grandmother, he spoke Spanish, English, French, German, and Latin fluently and lived abroad in countries such as Switzerland and Spain.
Overall, his works delve into themes of time, space, and identity, exploring concepts such as labyrinths, the infinite, and dreams.
Click here to read about Borges’ top stories!
Famous Collections (No Spoilers!)
For the first time in English, Borges’ dazzling fictions are gathered into a single volume, brilliantly translated by Andrew Hurley. Contains all of Borges’ collections including:
A Universal History of Infamy (1935)
Ficciones (1944)
The Aleph (1949)
The Maker (1960)
In Praise Of Darkness (1969)
Brodie’s Report (1970)
The Book Of Sand (1975)
Shakespeare’s Memory (1983)
Other Books I’ve Read by Jorge Luis Borges
The greater amount of Jorge Luis Borges’ writing was not fiction or poetry, but in the various forms of nonfiction. Includes over 500 pages of his essays, reviews, prologues, lectures, and notes that have rarely been translated before.
A collection of essays by Borges covering a wide variety of topics, including everything from a proposed universal language and the intricacies of linguistic forms to a refutation of time and the nature of dreams.
Check out more General Articles!
- How Hard Is It To Become A NY Times Bestseller?
- Guide To The Genres Of Literature
- The Most Famous Female Authors Pt 1
- 12 Must-Read Books By Black Authors
- Top 10 Best-Selling Books Of All Time
- The Most Popular Movies Based On Books
- 20 Most Beautiful Libraries In The World
- The Life of Jorge Luis Borges : Author Profile