See Also: Paz, Octavio(encyclopedia)
Paz, Octavio(dictionary)

Paz, Octavio (sh)




born March 31, 1914, Mexico City, Mex.
died April 19, 1998, Mexico City

Mexican poet, writer, and diplomat.

Educated at the University of Mexico, Paz published his first book of poetry, Savage Moon, in 1933. He later founded and edited several important literary reviews. Influenced in turn by Marxism, Surrealism, existentialism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, his poetry uses rich imagery in dealing with metaphysical questions, and his most prominent theme is the human ability to overcome existential solitude through erotic love and artistic creativity. His prose works include The Labyrinth of Solitude (1950), an influential essay on Mexican history and culture. He was Mexico's ambassador to India (1962-68). He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1990.