The acclaimed author has passed at 82 years old.
On Sunday June 28, Rudolfo Anaya passed away in his New Mexico home. He was best known for his 1972 novel Bless Me, Ultima, which helped launch the 1970s Chicano Literature Movement. The coming-of-age novel is an insightful look at Hispanic culture in 1940s New Mexico, and was adapted into a film in 2013.
Mainstream publishers were initially hesitant to take on Bless Me, Ultima, as they were unsure Anaya's mix of Spanish and English and the Chicano-based content would be of interest to a wider audience. However, they were quickly proven wrong—readers fell in love with Anaya's storytelling and touches of magical realism. The book sold more than 300,000 copies, and is now one of PBS's "100 Great American Reads."
In the 1990s, Anaya found a larger audience as he began publishing more novels, most notably including Alburquerque. Anaya also began writing the Sonny Baca mystery series, including popular titles such as Zia Summer and Rio Grande Fall.
In 2016, in recognition of the author's contributions to American culture, President Barack Obama awarded Anaya the National Humanities Medal.
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