Augusto Roa Bastos.

Augusto José Antonio Roa Bastos

Born 13 Jun 1917 Asunción, Paraguay

Died 26 Apr 2005 Asunción, Paraguay

Citizenship Paraguay

Would Be 109 yr If Living

5 min read

Reading time

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Words

Jun 12, 2026

Published

Awards

TL;DR

Augusto Roa Bastos won the Miguel de Cervantes Prize. He left Paraguay due to political upheaval and lived in exile for 42 years, returning in the mid-1990s. He wrote novels, poems, plays, and screenplays, including for the film Alias Gardelito 1961, and was often mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Identity & family.

KIN · 2

Names, aliases, and relatives of Augusto Roa Bastos — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Augusto José Antonio Roa Bastos

SPOUSES: Iris Giménez Muñeca Duarte Rodi

At a glance.

STATS

Augusto Roa Bastos by the numbers — life, work, and family.

87 Years lived

12 Awards

2 Marriages

Who was Augusto Roa Bastos?

BIOGRAPHY

Augusto Roa Bastos — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born on 13 June 1917 in Asunción, Paraguay, with the full name Augusto José Antonio Roa Bastos, he grew up during political instability that later forced him into exile. His time in Paraguay’s interior and exposure to Guarani culture shaped his literary themes.

Career

Roa Bastos began as a journalist and screenwriter in Argentina, writing for films including Alias Gardelito 1961, Shunko 1960, and El terrorista 1962. He won the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the Kurt Tucholsky Prize, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. His 42-year exile, a direct result of political upheaval in Paraguay, informed his writing, which often critiques dictatorship and explores national identity.

Personal life

Roa Bastos married Iris Giménez and later Muñeca Duarte Rodi. He voluntarily left Paraguay due to political turmoil, living in exile for 42 years before returning permanently in the mid-1990s. Few details of his personal relationships are known, but his marriages and exile defined his life.

Legacy

Augusto Roa Bastos won the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the highest honor in Spanish literature. He was frequently mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature. His novels, poems, plays, and screenplays are studied and translated worldwide.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 12

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Augusto Roa Bastos — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Miguel de Cervantes Prize
Kurt Tucholsky Prize
Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎
Knight of the Legion of Honour
Officer of Arts and Letters
Guggenheim Fellowship
National Order of Merit
Order of José Martí
Order of the Liberator General San Martín
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
honorary doctor of the University of Toulouse-II
Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic

Did you know?

FACTS · 1

Little-known facts about Augusto Roa Bastos — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

He won the Cervantes Prize for Literature in Spanish. He lived in exile for 42 years, voluntarily leaving his homeland due to political upheaval, and returned permanently in the mid-1990s. He was often mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature. He wrote screenplays as well as novels, poems, and plays, many of which were translated into several languages.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 27

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Augusto Roa Bastos.

When was Augusto Roa Bastos born?

He was born on 13 June 1917 in Asunción, Paraguay.
Where was Augusto Roa Bastos born?

He was born in Asunción, Paraguay, the capital city.
When did Augusto Roa Bastos die?

He died on 26 April 2005 at the age of 87 in Asunción, Paraguay.
How old was Augusto Roa Bastos when he died?

He was 87 years old at the time of his death from a heart attack.
Where did Augusto Roa Bastos die?

He died in Asunción, Paraguay, the same city where he was born.
What caused Augusto Roa Bastos's death?

He died from a heart attack on 26 April 2005.
What is Augusto Roa Bastos's full name?

His full birth name was Augusto José Antonio Roa Bastos.
What was Augusto Roa Bastos's occupation?

He was a writer, working across novels, poems, plays, and screenplays.
What nationality was Augusto Roa Bastos?

He was Paraguayan by citizenship.
Who was Augusto Roa Bastos married to?

He was married to Iris Giménez and later to Muñeca Duarte Rodi.
What awards did Augusto Roa Bastos win?

He received many honors including the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, Kurt Tucholsky Prize, Guggenheim Fellowship, and Knight of the Legion of Honour, among others.
How many awards did Augusto Roa Bastos receive?

He won at least 12 major awards, including the Cervantes Prize and several national orders.
Why did Augusto Roa Bastos live in exile?

He left Paraguay voluntarily due to political upheaval and lived abroad for 42 years before returning in the mid-1990s.
Which films did Augusto Roa Bastos write screenplays for?

He wrote for Alias Gardelito 1961, Shunko 1960, and El terrorista 1962.
Was Augusto Roa Bastos a candidate for the Nobel Prize?

He was often mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, though he never won.
Did Augusto Roa Bastos return to Paraguay?

Yes, he returned permanently to Paraguay in the mid-1990s after 42 years in exile.
What is Augusto Roa Bastos most famous for?

He is most famous for being Paraguay’s most important contemporary writer and for winning the Miguel de Cervantes Prize.
What literary prize did Augusto Roa Bastos win?

He won the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the highest honor for Spanish-language literature.
Did Augusto Roa Bastos write in Spanish or Guarani?

He wrote primarily in Spanish, but his work often incorporated Guarani words and themes from Paraguayan culture.
How long did Augusto Roa Bastos live in exile?

He lived in exile for 42 years, from the 1950s until the mid-1990s.
What is the Kurt Tucholsky Prize?

It is a Swedish literary award given to exiled writers, which Roa Bastos received for his work in exile.
Did Augusto Roa Bastos hold any honorary degrees?

Yes, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Toulouse-II.
What French honors did Augusto Roa Bastos receive?

He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour, an Officer of Arts and Letters, and received the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.
Which order did Augusto Roa Bastos receive from Spain?

He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
What did Augusto Roa Bastos write besides novels?

He also wrote poems, plays, and screenplays, many of which were translated into several languages.
Was Augusto Roa Bastos considered for the Nobel Prize repeatedly?

Yes, he was often mentioned as a candidate over several years, though he never won.
What is the National Order of Merit?

It is a Paraguayan honor that Roa Bastos received for his contributions to national culture.

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Michael is the last person to read a profile before it goes live, which makes him the one who catches what everyone else missed. 5 years as a copy editor has given him a sharp sense for what's off. A wrong year, a vague credit, a sentence that almost makes sense but doesn't quite. He's especially thorough with filmographies. He'll tell you that's where most of the errors hide. He's right.

Published on June 12, 2026

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