Oscar Cerruto
Oscar Cerruto was a prominent Bolivian writer, journalist, and diplomat, born on June 13, 1912, in La Paz, Bolivia, into an upper-class, patriarchal family. His early exposure to literature came from his artist mother, and he began writing poetry sympathetic to the working class during his high school years. Cerruto's career in journalism began at the young age of fourteen, where he penned political articles and gained notoriety for a provocative series on Bolivian poetry. His political activism led to a brief imprisonment in 1928. Although he started law school at his father's urging, he pursued a path in journalism and literature after his father's passing.
His first novel, *Aluvión de fuego*, published in 1935, showcased Marxist themes and addressed social struggles during the Chaco War. Cerruto's literary contributions continued throughout his life, with notable works including *Cifra de las rosas y siete cantares* and the acclaimed poetry collection *Estrella segregada*. He also had a significant diplomatic career, serving in various capacities, including a cultural attaché in Argentina and founding a diplomatic academy in Bolivia. Cerruto received several awards for his contributions to literature and culture, solidifying his legacy as a vital figure in Bolivian literature until his death in 1981.
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Oscar Cerruto
Writer
- Born: June 13, 1912
- Birthplace: La Paz, Bolivia
- Died: April 10, 1981
Biography
Oscar Cerruto was born into a traditional patriarchal family in upper-class Bolivian society on June 13, 1912, in La Paz, Bolivia. His father, Andrés Cerruto Durand, was Bolivian, and his mother, Lelia Maggie Collier, was British. His mother, who was an artist and pianist, taught him to read before he entered formal schooling. In 1926, he began living with his aunt, Lilly Collier de Conley, who introduced him to English and Spanish literature. In high school, he wrote poetry that was sympathetic to the working class. Also in 1926, at the age of fourteen, he began his first job, writing political articles for the newspaper Bandera Roja (red flag). This same year, he published a provocative series of articles on Bolivian poetry in the newspaper La Razón (the reason).
Accused of conspiring against the state in 1928 for his political activities, Cerruto was sent to jail, but was soon released. Because of his father’s wishes, he began law school in 1930 but left after his father’s death to continue his journalistic and literary careers. In 1931, he began his diplomatic career, working at the Consulate of Bolivia in Arica, Chile. In 1935, he published his first novel, Aluvión de fuego (flood of fire). Grounded in Marxist ideology, the novel explores the social political turmoil of the Chaco War, including the struggles of the indigenous population, which had just ended.
From 1942 to 1946, he served as cultural attaché to the Bolivian embassy in Argentina. In 1946, he returned to La Paz to serve as head of the Department of Cultural Affairs. In 1950, Cerruto married Marina Luna de Orazco. From 1952 to 1957, he served as editor in chief of the newspaper El Diario. Born in 1954, his daughter, Madeleine, inspired his first collection of poetry, Cifra de las rosas y siete cantares (cipher of the roses, and seven songs), which was published in 1957. The poems are written in a Latin American modernist style as evidenced by their use of imagery, rhythm, and resonant language.
From 1958 to 1961, he edited the newspaper Ultima Hora (last hour). Cerruto’s most acclaimed book of poetry was published in 1973. Estrella segregada was admired for its maturity and artistic vision as well as it well-crafted use of language. Cerruto had begun to use language as a mode of inquiry rather than as a mode of representation. After devoting his time to literary pursuits from 1968 to 1976, he returned to his diplomatic career, directing the academy of diplomacy of the secretary of foreign affairs, an institution that he founded. He died in 1981 following illness and surgery.
Cerruto’s awards include the Medalla al Mérito (medal of merit) from the Bolivian government in 1969 and the 1972 Andrés Bello Medal of Culture from the Venezuelan government. Oscar Cerruto devoted his life to diplomacy, journalism, and literature. He remains a pivotal twentieth century figure in Bolivian letters because of the excellence and cultural significance of his writing.