René Marques

René Marqués (October 4, 1919 - March 22, 1979) was a renowned Puerto Rican short story writer and playwright. Marqués was born, raised and educated in the city of Arecibo. He developed an interest in writing at a young age and was politically keen to support independence for the non-sovereign nation of Puerto Rico. In the 1940s, Marqués wrote what is considered to be his best play, La Carreta (The Oxcart). In 1951, it opened in San Juan and help... more

René Marqués (October 4, 1919 - March 22, 1979) was a renowned Puerto Rican short story writer and playwright. Marqués was born, raised and educated in the city of Arecibo. He developed an interest in writing at a young age and was politically keen to support independence for the non-sovereign nation of Puerto Rico. In the 1940s, Marqués wrote what is considered to be his best play, La Carreta (The Oxcart). In 1951, it opened in San Juan and helped secure his reputation as a leading literary figure in Puerto Rico. The drama traces a rural Puerto Rican family as it moved to the slums of San Juan and then to New York in search for a better life, but later returned to Puerto Rico. René Marqués was a member of what was known in Puerto Rico as "The Generation of the 40's". This was a group of intellectuals headed by Lorenzo Homar. In 1950, together with the other members of the group, Marqués worked for the Division of Community Education of Puerto Rico. Marqués however, did often come... less