Gabriela Mistral's Struggle with God and Man A Biographical and Critical Study of the Chilean Poet
Produktdetaljer
Biographical note
Martin C. Taylor has taught Spanish and Latin American literature at the University of Michigan, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of Nebraska. The former dean of the Panama Center of Nova Southeastern University, he is the author of several books and articles on Latin American Literature.“looks at secular and sacred dimensions of Mistral’s life and work”—<i>Reference & Research Book News</i>; “an indispensable contribution”—<i>Anales de Literatura Chilena</i>; “Chile’s...and Latin America’s...first Nobel laureate in literature, Gabriela Mistral, absorbed in her life and writings Old and New Testament religiosity and studied and practiced Theosophy and Buddhism. In Dr. Taylor’s new, enhanced work he skillfully penetrates these issues as he interweaves the broader context of her religious and human struggles with the latest research and writings. This work, undoubtedly, will aid our understanding of this complex personality and reveal her relevant sacred and secular message to a 21st century audience.”—Pedro Pablo Zegers B., Director of the Writer’s Archive and Curator of the Mistral Legacy, National Library of Chile.
Chilean poet, educator, diplomat, and feminist Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957) rose from poverty in the foothills of the Andes to become the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. This volume provides both a detailed biography of the author and a careful analysis of her writing. Chronicling the personal, psychological, and social currents of Mistral's life and times, it addresses such topics as her finances, illness, and sexuality. Literary analysis considers the sacred and secular influences on Mistral's oevre, including Catholicism, the Hebraic tradition, Theosophy, and Buddhism. By recounting Mistral's intelligence and perseverance in overcoming her life's obstacles to reach the pinnacle of her field, this book establishes her as a model for Chileans and for humanity.
Acknowledgments
Preface
Part One: The Secular
I. Personal Abnegation and Spiritual Fulfillment
II. A Pathway to the Sacred and the Secular
III. Family and Personal Matters
IV. Self-Education and Survival
V. Antofagasta: Desertic North and Arid Behavior
VI. Life Changes in Los Andes
VII. Sexuality, Humanity and Existential Choices
VIII. Punta Arenas: Exile in Land’s End
IX. Temuco: A Staging Area
X. The Transformation: Chile and Beyond
Part Two: The Sacred
XI. Critical Perspectives
XII. The Hebraic Tradition
XIII. A Quest for Religious Harmony
XIV. The Poetry of Sacrifice
XV. Conclusions on the Sacred and the Secular
Appendices
A. The Theosophical Society of La Serena
B. Zacarías Gómez: A Personal Correspondence
C. The Bible: “An Intimate Experience”
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index to Mistral’s Works
Index to Names and Places