GABRIEL ZAID: BIOGRAPHY, STYLE, WORKS AND PHRASES - BIOGRAPHIES - 2025

Gabriel Zaid (1934) is a Mexican writer, poet and essayist, whose work is one of the most current and recognized in this century. While all of his literary work has been prolific, where he has obtained the most recognition is in the genre of the essay, in which he has encompassed the politics, history, economy and culture of his nation.

The work of this author is characterized by being precise and clear in terms of language, despite presenting complex content on certain occasions. Some of the most prominent titles are: Fable of Narcissus and Ariadna, Nudist Field, Sundial and Poetry in Practice.

Gabriel Zaid. Image taken from: eldiariodecoahuila.com.mx

Little is known about Zaid's personal life, perhaps due to his reserved and somewhat mysterious personality. What is known is that he is a man who has tried to keep up to date with Mexican literature, and that his work as a writer has made him worthy of many recognitions and awards.

Biography

Birth and family

Gabriel Zaid was born on January 24, 1934 in Monterrey, Nuevo León. Data on his family are scarce, but it is known that he comes from middle-class Palestinian immigrants, who instilled in him the love of knowledge from an early age by providing him with a quality education.

Studies

Zaid's early years of education were spent in his native Monterrey. After finishing high school, he studied mechanical engineering at the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM), from where he graduated in 1955 at twenty-one years of age.

The degree work with which he received his degree was named Organization of manufacturing in printing workshops for the book industry in Mexico and dealt with everything related to the book industry in Mexico.

First tasks

Three years after graduating, Gabriel went to the country's capital to make his way professionally, where by then he already carried with him his passion for literature and writing. He began to work in a consulting office and quickly published his first book of poetry: Fable of Narcissus and Ariadna (1958).

Around that time he also worked independently and became part of the publishing industry. By the end of the sixties he achieved a space in the pages of La Cultura en México, in which he published some of his essays.

Other publications

Although the writer had already obtained recognition with his first literary works, he did not stop producing. In 1969 and 1973 he published two collections of poems: Campo nudista and Practica mortal. During those years the essays also came to light: Reading Poetry and Too Many Books.

Publications in newspapers and magazines

The intelligent and meticulous work of Gabriel Zaid opened the doors to various print media in his country, giving greater rise to his talent as a writer. His writings appeared in: Plural, Revista de Bellas Artes, Vuelta, Universidad de México, to name a few media. He also stood out as a columnist.

In

Octavio Paz, one of the authors who has influenced the work of Gabriel Zaid. Source: Photo: Jonn Leffmann, via Wikimedia Commons The intellectual also served on the board of members of the magazine Vuelta from 1976 to 1992, which was created by Mexican writer Octavio Paz. This is how he became one of the most active disseminators of Paz's work.

Last years

The last years of Zaid's life have been spent in writing and publishing. The details about his personal and family life are unknown because he is a person who is rarely seen, does not usually give interviews and for some reason does not allow himself to be photographed at public events.

Faculty of Engineering at ITESM, Guadalajara campus, Gabriel Zaid's place of study. Source: Moisés_Álvarez_Domínguez, via Wikimedia Commons For a long time he has written monthly for Content magazine, as well as for Letras Libres, a magazine that has continued the legacy of Vuelta. Some of the last publications of this author have been: Oppressed entrepreneurs, Money for culture, Chronology of progress and A thousand words.

Awards and honours

- Floral Games of Tehuacán in 1954, with the poetic work Fable of Narciso and Ariadna.

- Xavier Villaurrutia Award in 1972 for Reading Poetry.

- Banamex Economics Prize, honorable mention in 1979 for the essay Unproductive Progress.

- Member of El Colegio Nacional since 1984.

- Member of the Mexican Academy of Language since March 20, 1986. He then held the XVI chair on September 14, 1989; however, thirteen years later she decided to resign.

Style

Gabriel Zaid's literary style has been characterized by being innovative and reflective in terms of topics of interest. His writings enjoy a well-developed, clear and precise language, where humor and satire have been outstanding features.

His poetry has been constantly evolving with a balanced rhythm and musicality. Although it is not easy to understand, it requires readers concentration, knowledge and humor. On the other hand, his essays have been deep and reflective related to current affairs in Mexico.

Plays

Poetry

Poetry in practice

This publication by the Mexican writer belonged to the free trial genre. In it he evaluated, interpreted and analyzed topics such as literature, ingenuity, creativity and computerized or artificial intelligence. The work was well received by critics and the general public.

Structure

Zaid was in charge of dividing the book into two main parts and, these in turn, were made up of essays that represented the chapters. He titled the two main phases: "The city and the poets" and "The singing machine", in each one he made special considerations about poetry.

"The city and the poets"

In this section the intellectual referred to the work of being a poet as an act of creativity and not to profit or earn money. He based his statement on the little or no liking that society had towards poets and the ignorance of literature.

Zaid also referred to the recognition that an author reaches, and how this has a direct impact on the economic boom. So he mentioned the rise of the work of Octavio Paz, for being a writer of international fame, and for writing texts of quality and interest.

"The singing machine"

In this second part the writer made reference to the Spanish poet Antonio Machado. He speaks of a "device" with the ability to create poetry, without using ingenuity, that is, a singing machine. The subject of the computerized was compared with the practicality of reading and writing.

On the other hand, Gabriel Zaid mentioned the non-lasting capacity of sonnets in relation to the existence of the world. He also mentioned reading as an almost miraculous need to understand texts, without conscious reading what is written would not make sense.

Fragment

Fragments of some poems by Gabriel Zaid

"Farewell"

"Just about to die, I come back to tell you I don't know what

of happy hours.

Against the tide.

I don't know if I fight not to walk away

of the conversation on your shores

or to rub myself in pleasure

to come and go from the end of the world.

At what point does the page go to limbo, still believing to read, the one who dozes?

The deer on the ground jumps to be chased

to the bottom of the sea for the dolphin,

that nothing and is stunned, that submerges

and comes back to say I don't know what ”.

"Praising his way of doing it"

“How good it is for you, my life!

Many women do it well

but none like you.

La Sulanita, in glory, he leans out to see you do it.

And I tell him no

let us, I'll write it.

But if I wrote it

you would become legendary.

And I don't believe in autobiographical poetry

I don't want to advertise you ”.

"Birth of Venus"

"Thus you arise from the water, very white, and your long hair is still from the sea, and the winds push you, the waves drive you, like the sunrise.

Thus happiness shelters like a cloak ”.

"Night"

"Springs of water, already perennial, deep life

open in your eyes.

The earth coexists in you

populated, its truth

novel and simple.

Open its fullness

quiet, its mystery, the fable of the world.

… It breaks out one noon

night, burn in grace

the night, the sky is silent.

Faint wind of birds

of hidden fire

speaks in mouths and hands.

Vineyards, those of silence.

Vineyards, those of words

charged with silence ".

Phrases

- «Oral literature did not disappear with writing, nor will it disappear. It circulates carelessly, without signature or control ».

- «Curiosity has been fundamental for the development of humanity. At what point do we begin to consider it unhealthy? ».

- «An unread book is an unfulfilled project. Keeping unread books on view is like writing bad checks: visitor fraud.

- "There are phrases that draw attention to themselves, distract from the topic they were talking about and surprise even the person who said them, as a revelation, because of what they say and how well they say it."

- "The problem of the book is not in the millions of poor people who hardly know how to read and write, but in the millions of university students who do not want to read, but to write."

- «We do not accept the given, hence the fantasy».

- «How to read poetry? There is no possible recipe. Each reader is a world, each reading is different ».

- "The art of praise is difficult, unadapted to the speed and magnitude that modern praise production requires."

- «Don't be ashamed to cry. Nor of not crying.

References

1. Gabriel Zaid. (2019). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.
2. Gabriel Zaid. (2019). Mexico: The National College. Recovered from: colnal.mx.
3. Gabriel Zaid. (2017). Mexico: Encyclopedia of Literature in Mexico. Recovered from: elem.mx.
4. 12 dazzling quotes and excerpts from the great Gabriel Zaid. (2018). Mexico: MX City. Recovered from: mxcity.mx.
5. Gabriel Zaid. (S. f.). Cuba: Ecu Red. Recovered from: ecured.cu.