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Max AubSpanish and Mexican writer of German descent
Date of Birth: 20.06.1903
Country:  Spain |
Content:
- Max Aub: A German-Born Spanish and Mexican Writer
- Literary Influences and Career
- The Spanish Civil War
- Exile and Mexican Citizenship
- Cinematic Contributions and Later Life
Max Aub: A German-Born Spanish and Mexican Writer
Early Life and EducationMax Aub was born into an affluent family in Paris, France, in 1904. His father, a merchant from Bavaria, frequently visited Spain, while his mother hailed from Saxony. Aub was raised among women, becoming bilingual in German and French.
In 1914, the family relocated to Valencia, Spain, as the outbreak of World War I prevented their return to France. In 1916, they acquired Spanish citizenship. Aub attended school in Valencia, where he excelled in academics.
Literary Influences and Career
Aub developed a passion for writing and traveled extensively, supporting himself through his father's wealth. In 1921, he encountered the works of Jules Romains, whose Unanimism deeply influenced him. He published in French periodicals and the "Revista de Occidente."
Despite his family's business background, Aub pursued a literary career. He joined the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party in 1928 and became associated with the Generation of '27, which included Federico Garcia Lorca and Luis Buñuel. His travels brought him into contact with prominent Catalan writers and artists.
The Spanish Civil War
During the Spanish Civil War, Aub actively supported the Republican government, executing diplomatic missions in Paris. He also participated in the filming of Lluis Buñuel's "Land Without Bread," based on André Malraux's novel.
Exile and Mexican Citizenship
In 1939, Aub fled into exile in France. He was briefly imprisoned as a suspected communist. In 1941, he was deported to Algeria, but managed to escape and emigrate to Mexico in 1942. His family soon joined him. Aub acquired Mexican citizenship and immersed himself in the literary and cultural scene among other Spanish exiles.
Cinematic Contributions and Later Life
Aub made significant contributions to Mexican cinema, co-writing the screenplay for Buñuel's "Los Olvidados" (1950). After 1956, he visited Europe and returned to Spain in 1969. He served on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival in 1965.
In his later years, Aub's work garnered international recognition. An asteroid (72827) was named in his honor in 2001, and a biographical novel by Javier Quiñones was published in 2007. The Cervantes Institute in Algeria named its library after him in 2009.
Max Aub passed away in Mexico City in 1972, leaving behind a vast literary legacy that continues to inspire and resonate with readers worldwide.
