Photo: 不明 / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Juan Rulfo, born on May 16, 1917 in Sayula Municipality, Jalisco, Mexico, was a writer, screenwriter and photographer. Death is recorded on January 7, 1986, at the age of 68. Listed accolades include Xavier Villaurrutia Award (1955), National Prize for Arts and Sciences (1970), Alfaguara Prize and 2 more. Notable works include The Burning Plain and Other Stories and Pedro Páramo.
My Take
Juan Rulfo is proof to me that a tiny body of work can outweigh shelves of lesser books. With only the novel Pedro Páramo and the stories of El Llano en llamas, this writer from Jalisco reshaped Latin American literature, dissolving the line between the living and the dead into something hauntingly natural. I sense his eye as a photographer in the dry, luminous starkness of his prose. What moves me most is his restraint; he fired once and hit eternity, then largely fell silent. In an age that worships output, his quiet, perfect aim feels almost defiant.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Juan Rulfo
- Name (Japanese)
- フアン・ルルフォ
- Reading
- ふあん・るるふぉ
- Born
- May 16, 1917 – January 7, 1986
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Snake
- Origin
- Sayula Municipality, Jalisco, Mexico
- Occupation
- writer / screenwriter / photographer / novelist / singer
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1955 Xavier Villaurrutia Award
- 1970 National Prize for Arts and Sciences
- Alfaguara Prize
- 1983 Princess of Asturias Literary Prize
- Guggenheim Fellowship
- Xavier Villaurrutia Award
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Burning Plain and Other Stories | — | |
| Notable work | Pedro Páramo | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.elem.mx/autor/datos/970
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan%20Rulfo
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%AB%E3%83%AB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200661
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-23
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Juan Rulfo born?
Born May 16, 1917.
When did Juan Rulfo die?
Died January 7, 1986, aged 68.
Where was Juan Rulfo from?
Juan Rulfo was from Sayula Municipality, Jalisco, Mexico.
What did Juan Rulfo do?
Juan Rulfo worked as writer, screenwriter, photographer, novelist, singer.
What was Juan Rulfo known for?
Notable works include The Burning Plain and Other Stories, Pedro Páramo.
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