Tomás Eloy Martínez
Tomás Eloy Martínez was an Argentine journalist and writer known for his investigative journalism and his books that blend journalism with narrative fiction. Among his most popular works are "Santa Evita" and "The Perón Novel". He was also a foundational member of Latin American investigative journalism.
Quick Facts
- Argentine journalist and author.
- His work has been translated into several languages.
- Known for his novel "Santa Evita" which has been translated into 32 languages.
- Was awarded the French title "Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters".
- His work blends journalistic style with complex narratives and fictionalized retellings of historical events.
Background
Martínez was born in 1934 in Tucumán, Argentina. He completed his early education in Argentina and then went to Paris to study Literature at the Sorbonne. He returned to Argentina in the 1960s during a time of political turmoil and was a firm critic of the government. This led him to be expelled from the country during the military dictatorship. He then lived in exile in Venezuela, where he worked as a journalist for the newspaper El Nacional. He wrote several novels depicting the social issues and political climate of Argentina, including The Tango Singer and Santa Evita. He served as the head of the Latin American Studies program at Rutgers University from 1995 until his death in 2010.
Writing Style and Impact
Martínez's writing style is uniquely evocative, exploring themes of political oppression and truth with poetic flair. He is best known for his narrative nonfiction, which combines meticulous research with novelistic intensity. His work is highly intellectual yet deeply emotional, often viewed as a profound critique of political power and social injustice in Latin America. His work has been instrumental in highlighting the importance of historical memory through literature.
Notable Works
- Santa Evita (1995)
- The Tango Singer (2004)
- The Novel of Peron (1985)
- The Flight of the Queen (2002)
- The Peron Novel (1988)