Rudolfo Anaya

Rudolfo Anaya (October 30, 1937 – June 28, 2020) was an American author. Noted for his 1972 novel Bless Me, Ultima, Anaya was considered one of the founders of the canon of contemporary Chicano and New Mexican literature. The themes and cultural references of the novel, which were uncommon at the time of its publication, had a lasting impression on fellow Latino writers. It was subsequently adapted into a film and an opera.

Early life and education Rudolfo Anaya was raised in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. His father, Martín Anaya, was a vaquero from a family of cattle workers and sheepherders. His mother, Rafaelita (Mares), was from a family composed of farmers from Puerto De Luna in the Pecos Valley of New Mexico. Anaya grew up with two half-brothers, from his mother's previous marriage, and four sisters. The beauty of the desert flatlands of New Mexico, referenced as the llano in Anaya's writings, had a profound influence on his early childhood.

Anaya's family relocated from rural New Mexico to Albuquerque in 1952, when he was in the eighth grade. He attended Albuquerque High School, graduating in 1956. Following high school, he earned a B.A. in English and American Literature from the University of New Mexico in 1963. He went on to complete two master's degrees at the University of New Mexico, one in 1968 for English and another in 1972 for guidance and counseling. In 1966, he married Patricia Lawless, who continued to support his writing. Independent publishing house Quinto Sol quickly published the book after awarding it the Premio Quinto Sol in 1971 for best novel written by a Chicano. The themes and cultural references touched on in the novel were uncommon at the time of its publication. Consequently, it ended up having a lasting impact on a generation of Latino writers.

Following the book's success, Anaya was invited to join the English faculty at the University of New Mexico in 1975, where he taught until his retirement in 1993.

Bless Me, Ultima was released as a feature film on February 22, 2013. It was subsequently adapted into an opera three years later.

Anaya lived in Albuquerque, where each day he spent several hours writing. He died at his home on June 28, 2020, at the age of 82. He had been suffering from a long illness in the time leading up to his death. Jalamanta: A Message from the Desert (1996), Serafina's Stories (2004), The Man Who Could Fly and Other Stories (2006), Randy Lopez Goes Home: A Novel (Chicana & Chicano Visions of the Americas Series) (2011), The Old Man's Love Story (Chicana & Chicano Visions of the Americas series) (2013), The Sorrows of Young Alfonso (Chicana & Chicano Visions of the Americas series) (2016),

Sonny Baca series The occult detective fiction series following the titular character Sonny Baca. Zia Summer (1995), Rio Grande Fall (1996), Shaman Winter (1999), Jemez Spring (2005),

Books for children The Farolitos of Christmas: A New Mexico Christmas Story (1987), Maya's Children: The Story of La Llorona (1996), illustrated by Maria Baca, Farolitos for Abuelo (1998), illustrated by Edward Gonzalez, My Land Sings: Stories from the Rio Grande (1999), illustrated by Amy Córdova, Elegy on the Death of César Chávez (2000), illustrated by Gaspar Enriquez, Roadrunner's Dance (2000), illustrated by David Diaz, The Santero's Miracle: A Bilingual Story (2004), illustrated by Amy Córdova, Spanish translation by Enrique Lamadrid, The Curse of the ChupaCabra (2006), The First Tortilla (2007), illustrated by Amy Córdova, Spanish translation by Enrique Lamadrid, ChupaCabra and the Roswell UFO (2008),

Non-fiction and anthologies

Voices from the Rio Grande: Selections from the First Rio Grande Writers Conference (1976) Cuentos: Tales from the Hispanic Southwest (1980), with Jose Griego y Maestas, A Ceremony of Brotherhood, 1680–1980 (1981), edited with Simon J. Ortiz Cuentos Chicanos: A Short Story Anthology (rev. ed. 1984), edited with Antonio Márquez, A Chicano in China (1986), Voces: An Anthology of Nuevo Mexicano Writers (1987, 1988), editor, Aztlán: Essays on the Chicano Homeland (1989), edited with Francisco A. Lomelí, Tierra: Contemporary Short Fiction of New Mexico (1989), editor, Flow of the River (2nd ed. 1992), Descansos: An Interrupted Journey (1995), with Denise Chávez and Juan Estevan Arellano, Muy Macho: Latino Men Confront Their Manhood, edited and introduction by Ray Gonzales, Chicano/a Studies: Writing into the Future (1998), edited with Robert Con Davis-Undiano

Poetry Adventures of Juan Chicaspatas (1985),

Published or performed plays The Season of La Llorona Ay, Compadre! (1994) Bless Me, Ultima (2018)

Bibliographical Resources works and editions: https://faculty.ucmerced.edu/mmartin-rodriguez/index_files/vhAnayaRudolfo.htm

Musical adaptations

"La Llorona" (2002) an opera based on his play The Seasons of La Llorona. Libretto by Rudolfo Anaya. Composer, Daniel Steven Crafts Premiere 2008 National Hispanic Cultural Center "Cancion al Rio Grande" (2007) an orchestral setting of his poem of the same name, written for inclusion into the work for tenor and orchestra, From a Distant Mesa composed by Daniel Steven Crafts. Premiere 2012, New Mexico Philharmonic.

Awards and honors Source:

Premio Quinto Sol literary award, for Bless Me, Ultima, 1970 NM Governor's Public Service Award, 1978, 1980 Natl Chicano Council on Higher Education fellowship, 1978–79 NEA fellowships, 1979, 1980 American Book Award, Before Columbus Foundation, for Tortuga, 1980 D.H.L., Univ. of Albuquerque, 1981 Corporation for Public Broadcasting script development award, for "Rosa Linda," 1982 Award for Achievement in Chicano Literature, Hispanic Caucus of Teachers of English, 1983 Kellogg Foundation fellowship, 1983–85 D.H.L., Marycrest Coll., 1984 Mexican Medal of Friendship, Mexican Consulate of Albuquerque, 1986 PEN-West Fiction Award, 1992, for Alburquerque NEA National Medal of Arts Lifetime Honor, 2001 Outstanding Latino/a Cultural Award in Literary Arts or Publications, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE), 2003 People's Choice Award, 2007 New Mexico Book Awards Notable New Mexican 2007 Robert Kirsch Award 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award in Literature from the Paul Bartlett Re Peace Prize, 2014 Inducted into Albuquerque's Wall of Fame, 2014 2015 National Humanities Medal