A Conversation with Tomas Avila Laurel

Thumbnail Image
Supplemental Files
Date
2012-09-01
Authors
Rizo, Elisa
Shook, David
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Person
Rizo, Elisa
Associate Professor
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Organizational Unit
World Languages and Cultures
The Department of World Languages and Cultures seeks to provide an understanding of other cultures through their languages, providing both linguistic proficiency and cultural literacy. Majors in French, German, and Spanish are offered, and other coursework is offered in Arabic, Chinese, Classical Greek, Latin, Portuguese, and Russian
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
World Languages and Cultures
Abstract

In February 2011 Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel (b. 1966) declared a hunger strike in order to bring attention to the political situation in Equatorial Guinea, where the longstanding authoritarian regime works in tandem with the compliance of foreign powers. Concerned for the security of the author, national and international observers recommended that he leave the country. Today, Ávila Laurel lives in Spain, where he has become, in his own words, a “migrant due to political causes.” In Spain, Ávila Laurel continues his writing, alongside a pacific fight for democracy. Aside from his ethical commitment to justice and solidarity with the people of his country and all marginalized peoples, Ávila Laurel has created a literary aesthetic that is informed by this multilingual, multicultural environment. Thus, his literary style is marked by images that synthesize his society, reflect on world history, and connect Equatorial Guinea to other nations, across time and geography.

Comments

This article is from World Literature Today 86 (2012): 41, doi:10.7588/worllitetoda.86.5.0041. Posted with permission.

Description
Keywords
Citation
DOI
Copyright
Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2012
Collections