Vicente Leñero Papers, 1954-2011 at Princeton University Library

• By: Fernando Acosta-Rodríguez
• On: 01/25/2013 07:14:12
• In: Institutional News & Research Grants

I am glad to announce that the Manuscripts Division of the Princeton University Library has recently added the papers of Mexican playwright, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and essayist Vicente Leñero (1933- ) to its extensive collection of archives of Latin American writers and intellectuals.

Leñero published his first collection of short stories, La polvareda, y otras cuentos in 1959, winning first prize in the Concurso Nacional del Cuento Universitario for the collection's eponymous story. Four years later, in 1963, Leñero was awarded the Premio Biblioteca Breve for his novel, Los albañiles, which he later adapted for the stage.  In subsequent decades, Leñero has produced a critically acclaimed and expansive body of work, including novels, plays, screenplays, television scripts and essays.  Although he evolved independent of any specific literary circle, as co-founder of the magazine Proceso, Leñero's place as a leading intellectual in Mexico is undisputed.  He is also considered one of Mexico's most important playwrights of the twentieth century. In later years Leñero has written prodigiously for Mexican cinema, and his credits include La ley de Herodes (1999), El crímen del Padre Amaro (2003), Fuera del cielo (2006), and Desde dentro (2012).

The Vicente Leñero Papers represent Leñero's work as a playwright, screenwriter, novelist, and essayist from the late 1950s to the present day. The majority of materials consist of typed and autograph manuscripts of novels, plays, screenplays, television scripts and essays. The notebooks provide access to the earlier stages of some of Leñero's published or performed works, and feature poems, drawings, ephemera and personal notes as well.  In addition to the manuscripts there is a sizeable amount of correspondence from friends and professional associates, including letters from José Emilio Pacheco and Subcomandante Marcos of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), and printed material highlighting Leñero's early days as a writer.

A detailed finding aid created by SALALM colleague Jill Baron is available at http://findingaids.princeton.edu/collections/C1424.

Feel free to contact me or the Manuscripts Division for additional information about this collection.

Fernando Acosta-Rodríguez
Princeton University Library