Octavio Paz (Hispanics) (Z)

This book is part of the Hispanics of Achievement series that includes a diversity of people from different time periods like El Cid, Roberto Clemente, Salvador Dali, Pancho Villa, Anthony Quinn, Pablo Neruda, Julio Iglesias, Miguel de Cervantes, Henry Cisneros, Gloria Estefan and Pablo Picasso, amongst others.It is a thin book of about 100 pages but is full of the highlights and achievements of Octavio Paz. The photographs are black and while and bountiful. The book serves as a good middle level introduction to the works and life of Paz. High school and some middle school children would benefit from this book for reports and research. The book begins with Paz being the ambassador to New Delhi during the 60's and his denunciation of his position in protest to the Massacre at Tlatelelco in Mexico City of students by the Mexican government. After this introduction into the life of Octavio Paz, the book quickly shifts to his birth and his family background, followed in chronological order by all the major events of this free-thinker's life who was an international poet. His poetry transended boundaries. Several excerts of his poetry and prose are included that are taken from books like In Light of India, Sunstone/Piedra De Sol, A Tale of Two Gardens: Poems from India 1952-1995 and, of course, probably his most famous piece of literatureTHE LABYRINTH OF SOLITUDE LIFE AND THOUGHT IN MEXICO. This book is very good and includes a chronolgy of events surrounding Paz's life. Octavio Paz won many prizes during his distinguished career including the Jerusalem Prize in Israel, Cervantes Prize in Madrid and the Nobel Peace Prize for literature in Stockholm. His friend and fellow Mexican literary giant, Carlos Fuentes called Paz, The First Poet of Spanish America. This book is an excellent introduction for the student of literature. Recommended for community, middle and high school libraries.