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Celebrated Argentinean author to read and lecture at WVU

Mempo Giardinelli

Argentinean author Mempo Giardinelli will read from his book “Luna Caliente” (Sultry Moon) and other works on Friday April 1, beginning at 12:00 p.m. in 130 Colson Hall. The reading will be in English.
A lecture and discussion of his presented work will follow in Spanish at 3:30 p.m. in 107 Oglebay Hall. Both events are free and open to the public.

Mempo Giardinelli was born in Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina in 1947. He studied law at Universidad Nacional del Nordeste in Argentina. From 1976 to 1983, he lived in exile in Mexico. He returned to make his home in Resistencia in 1985.

His literary works have been translated into 20 languages and have earned him several prominent awards, including the National Award for Best Novel (Mexico), the Rómulo Gallegos Award (Venezuela) and the Grandes Viajeros Award (Spain). His best known works include the novels “Luna Caliente” and “Santo Oficio de la Memoria.”

In his role as a journalist and essayist, he writes for numerous international newspapers and magazines including DEBATE magazine, Página/12 (Argentina), La Jornada (Mexico) and El Mundo (Madrid). He founded the literary magazine Puro Cuento (Buenos Aires) and acted as its editor from 1986 to 1992. He has published essays on detective fiction and the art of short story writing.

In 1996, he donated his personal library of 10,000 volumes and created a foundation devoted to encouraging the habit of reading. The foundation supports and carries out several cultural, educational and community outreach programs in Chaco (www.fundamgiardinelli.org.ar). His visit is sponsored by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Departments of English and Foreign Languages.