Arturo Uslar Pietri
Arturo Uslar-Pietri (May 16,1906 - February 26,2001) was one of the most prominent writers and intellectuals of twentieth century Venezuela. As a writer, journalist, diplomat, politician, government official or educator, Uslar-Pietri was always a relevant figure in his country.
Born in Caracas, Uslar-Pietri was raised partly there and partly in Maracay (State of Aragua) where he published several short stories in youth magazines. Studied Political Sciences in the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas and shortly after moved to Paris as a member of the Venezuelan diplomatic delegation there. In Paris he met many Latin American writers and became a good friend of Alejo Carpentier and Miguel Angel Asturias. One of his most celebrated books was written during his stay in France. In 1931 he published Las Lanzas Coloradas a historical novel set in revolutionary Venezuela.
When the 27 year long dictatorship of Juan Vicente Gómez ended with the Dictator's death in 1935, Uslar-Pietri became very active in the political debate, writing opinion articles in the local press. One of those articles, published on July 14, 1936 included a phrase that is still remembered and has both become an inspiration and a recrimination of Venezuela's fate as an oil producer and exporter. The title of that article was Sembrar el petróleo (to sow or plant oil) a metaphor he created to encourage Venezuelan leaders to invest oil wealth on sustainable growth.
In 1939, at the age of 33 he married Isabel Braun Kerdel with whom he had two sons, Arturo and Federico Uslar Braun. That same year he became Minister of Education. Founded a political party Partido Democrático Venezolano and joined the Legislative Assembly as a Deputy in 1944. In 1945 he had been appointed Minister of the Interior. Political turmoil forced him to leave the country and move to New York in 1948 to come back two years later and resume his political activities as a Senator. During his stay in New York he taught at Columbia University. In 1963 he ran for the Presidency as a third party candidate but was defeated by Raúl Leoni.
Stayed active in politics as a Senator but gradually distanced himself from the political fray. Became Director of the Caracas news daily El Nacional from 1969 to 1974. Traveled to Paris as Venezuelan Ambassador at UNESCO. On his return in 1979 he concentrated on writing and education. He became a familiar face on Television on a weekly educational show called Valores Humanos dedicated to history and the arts; a show he actually had started in 1953.
Uslar-Pietri received many awards: El Nacional Best Short Story Award (1949), National Literature Award (1952 and 1982), National Journalism Award (1971), The Miguel de Cervantes Hispanic-American Journalism Award (1972), Prince of Asturias Award (1990), Rómulo Gallegos Prize for Best Novel (1991).
Arturo Uslar-Pietri died in Caracas on February 26, 2001 at the age of 94.