ALICIA KOZAMEH
2012
Alicia Kozameh studied philosophy and literature at the University of Rosario and at the University of Buenos Aires. Her studies were interrupted while she was detained as a political prisoner during Argentina's most recent military dictatorship. After her release, she continued to suffer constant repression and persecution, and was forced to go into exile in 1980, first in California, and later in Mexico.
She returned to Argentina in 1984, after the Falklands War and the return of democratic elections to her country. As a consequence of the publication of Pasos bajo el agua in 1987, Kozameh was threatened by members of the Argentine political police. She returned to California for her family's safety in 1988. Since then, she has been invited by Amnesty International to participate in panel discussions and speak at conferences about her literary works and experiences as a political prisoner. She is frequently invited to give readings and lectures at literary conferences and at special presentations organized by Departments of Languages and Literature throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe. She currently teaches creative writing full-time at Chapman University.
She returned to Argentina in 1984, after the Falklands War and the return of democratic elections to her country. As a consequence of the publication of Pasos bajo el agua in 1987, Kozameh was threatened by members of the Argentine political police. She returned to California for her family's safety in 1988. Since then, she has been invited by Amnesty International to participate in panel discussions and speak at conferences about her literary works and experiences as a political prisoner. She is frequently invited to give readings and lectures at literary conferences and at special presentations organized by Departments of Languages and Literature throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe. She currently teaches creative writing full-time at Chapman University.
Published works include the novels Pasos bajo el agua (Steps Under Water); 259 saltos, uno immortal (259 Leaps, the Last Immortal; Patas de avestruz; Basse danse; the short story collection Ofrenda de propia piel; and the poetry book Mano en vuelo.