Alicia Steimberg

Alicia Steimberg (July 18, 1933 – June 16, 2012) was an Argentine novelist.[1]

The daughter of Gregorio Steimberg and Luisa Imas, both natives of Argentina of East European descent, she was born in Buenos Aires and was educated at the Instituto Nacional del Profesorado. Her father, a teacher, died when she was eight.[1]

She published her first novel Of Musicians and Watchmakers (De músicos y relojeros} in 1971. This was followed by Madwoman 101 (La loca 101) in 1973. In 1983, she published a collection of short stories Just Like Every Morning (Como todas las mañanas). In 1992, her novel Call Me Magdalena (Cuando digo Magdalena) won the Premio Planeta Biblioteca del Sur prize.[1] Injected with a dose of humour, her work draws from her own life experiences and from daily life in urban Argentina.[2][3]

Despite a favourable reception from critics, Steimberg found it necessary to supplement her income by translation work and giving literary workshops. She was director of the books section of the Argentine Secretariate of Culture from 1995 to 1997.[1]

Despite her Jewish heritage, she had little direct interaction with the local Jewish community.[1] At times, she compares Judaism unfavourably with Catholicism in her work.[2]

She was married twice: first to Abraham Sokoloiwcz in 1957 and then to Abraham Svidler in 1968. Swidler died of cancer in 1990.[1]

Steimberg died in Buenos Aires at the age of 88[1] after suffering a heart attack.[4]

He brother Oscar is a noted seismologist.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Alicia Steimberg". Jewish Women's Archive.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lockhart, Darrell B (2012). Jewish Writers of Latin America: A Dictionary. pp. 499–504. ISBN 1134754205.
  3. ↑ Agosín, Marjorie (1999). Passion, Memory, and Identity. pp. 45–49. ISBN 082632049X.
  4. ↑ "Argentine writer Alicia Steimberg dies". Buenos Aires Herald. June 18, 2012.