Ramón José Sender Garcés
Encyclopedia
Ramón José Sender Garcés (February 3, 1901 January 16, 1982) was a Spanish novelist, essayist and journalist.
, Huesca Province in the autonomous region of Aragon
in Spain. In 1923 he was obliged to serve in the Spanish military and take part in the Spain Morocco Rif War
, which lasted from 1919 to 1926. Later that year he returned to Madrid, where he worked as a journalist for El Sol
, a paper critical of the current government. In 1926 he was imprisoned for writing Casas viejas. When the Spanish Civil War
began in 1936, Sender immediately enlisted to help resist Franco
. While he was at the front, the Nationalists
shot his wife, Amparo Barayon, in Zamora and his brother in Huesca. He had been an anarchist
and then a communist
but after the Spanish Civil War he reneged of this ideology and sought asylum in France in 1938. He left Spain for New York after the Spanish Civil War
in 1939, and then relocated to Mexico like many scientists, artists and intellectuals during the government of Lázaro Cárdenas
. He became an American citizen in 1948, and he lived in the United States until 1972, when he returned to live in Spain for several years before dying in San Diego, California
in 1982. Sender's son is composer and writer Ramon Sender
. His grandson is Chicago-based designer Sol Sender, best known for the development of Obama campaign logo. The Spanish actor and showman Raúl Sender is his nephew.
Life
Ramón J. Sender was born in ChalameraChalamera
Chalamera or Xalamera is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 153 inhabitants....
, Huesca Province in the autonomous region of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
in Spain. In 1923 he was obliged to serve in the Spanish military and take part in the Spain Morocco Rif War
Rif War (1920)
The Rif War, also called the Second Moroccan War, was fought between Spain and the Moroccan Rif Berbers.-Rifian forces:...
, which lasted from 1919 to 1926. Later that year he returned to Madrid, where he worked as a journalist for El Sol
El Sol (Madrid)
El Sol was a Spanish newspaper printed in Madrid. It was founded the December 1, 1917 by Nicolás María de Urgoiti. Edited by Manuel Aznar Zubigaray, its writers included Julio Álvarez del Vayo and Ernesto Giménez Caballero....
, a paper critical of the current government. In 1926 he was imprisoned for writing Casas viejas. When the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
began in 1936, Sender immediately enlisted to help resist Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
. While he was at the front, the Nationalists
Spanish State
Francoist Spain refers to a period of Spanish history between 1936 and 1975 when Spain was under the authoritarian dictatorship of Francisco Franco....
shot his wife, Amparo Barayon, in Zamora and his brother in Huesca. He had been an anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
and then a communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
but after the Spanish Civil War he reneged of this ideology and sought asylum in France in 1938. He left Spain for New York after the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
in 1939, and then relocated to Mexico like many scientists, artists and intellectuals during the government of Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
. He became an American citizen in 1948, and he lived in the United States until 1972, when he returned to live in Spain for several years before dying in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in 1982. Sender's son is composer and writer Ramon Sender
Ramon Sender
Ramon Sender Barayón is a composer, writer and the co-founder, with Morton Subotnick, of the San Francisco Tape Music Center in 1961. He studied with George Copeland, Elliott Carter, and Robert Erickson....
. His grandson is Chicago-based designer Sol Sender, best known for the development of Obama campaign logo. The Spanish actor and showman Raúl Sender is his nephew.
Work
His most famous works include La tesis de Nancy, about the experiences of a young American student in Spain named Nancy, and Réquiem por un campesino español. La tesis de Nancy is widely read by Spanish students. The book is a true account based upon a series of letters written by Nancy (originally in English) from Nancy to her aunt. At the time Nancy was studying and living in Spain. She shared with her aunt her love for learning and exploring the Spanish language.Publications
- Imán (1930)
- Seven Red Sundays (1932. Penguin 1938) (orig. Spanish. Siete domingos rojos)
- Mr. Witt en el cantón (1935)
- El lugar de un hombre (1939)
- Mexicayotl (1940)
- Crónica del alba (1942)
- La esfera (1947)
- El rey y la reina (1949)
- Requiem for a Spanish Peasant (1960) (orig. Spanish. Requiem por un campesino español)
- El bandido adolescente (1965)
- La aventura equinocial de Lope de Aguirre (1968)