Thanks to Life

A Biography of Violeta Parra

By Ericka Kim Verba | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

Chilean musician and artist Violeta Parra (1917–1967) is an inspiration to generations of artists and activists across the globe. Her music is synonymous with resistance, and it animated both the Chilean folk revival and the protest music movement Nueva Canción (New Song). Her renowned song “Gracias a la vida” has been covered countless times, including by Joan Baez, Mercedes Sosa, and Kacey Musgraves. A self-taught visual artist, Parra was the first Latin American to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in the Louvre. In this remarkable biography, Ericka Verba traces Parra’s radical life and multifaceted artistic trajectory across Latin America and Europe and on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

Drawing on decades of research, Verba paints a vivid and nuanced picture of Parra’s life. From her modest beginnings in southern Chile to her untimely death, Parra was an exceptionally complex and talented woman who exposed social injustice in Latin America to the world through her powerful and poignant songwriting. This examination of her creative, political, and personal life, flaws and all, illuminates the depth and agency of Parra’s journey as she invented and reinvented herself in her struggle to be recognized as an artist on her own terms.

Editions of Thanks to Life

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469682945
Paperback
ISBN 9781469682952
EBook
ISBN 9781469679631
EBook
ISBN 9781469682976
EBook
ISBN 9781469682983
PDF
ISBN 9781469682969

Read an Excerpt

Chilean musician and artist Violeta Parra (1917–1967) is an inspiration to generations of artists and activists across the globe. Her music is synonymous with resistance, and it animated both the Chilean folk revival and the protest music movement Nueva Canción (New Song). Her renowned song “Gracias a la vida” has been covered countless times, including by Joan Baez, Mercedes Sosa, and Kacey Musgraves. A self-taught visual artist, Parra was the first Latin American to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in the Louvre. In this remarkable biography, Ericka Verba traces Parra’s radical life and multifaceted artistic trajectory across Latin America and Europe and on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

Drawing on decades of research, Verba paints a vivid and nuanced picture of Parra’s life. From her modest beginnings in southern Chile to her untimely death, Parra was an exceptionally complex and talented woman who exposed social injustice in Latin America to the world through her powerful and poignant songwriting. This examination of her creative, political, and personal life, flaws and all, illuminates the depth and agency of Parra’s journey as she invented and reinvented herself in her struggle to be recognized as an artist on her own terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Thanks to Life about?

Chilean musician and artist Violeta Parra (1917–1967) is an inspiration to generations of artists and activists across the globe. Her music is synonymous with resistance, and it animated both the Chilean folk revival and the protest music movement Nueva Canción (New Song). Her renowned song “Gracias a la vida” has been covered countless times, including by Joan Baez, Mercedes Sosa, and Kacey Musgraves. A self-taught visual artist, Parra was the first Latin American to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in the Louvre. In this remarkable biography, Ericka Verba traces Parra’s radical life and multifaceted artistic trajectory across Latin America and Europe and on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

Drawing on decades of research, Verba paints a vivid and nuanced picture of Parra’s life. From her modest beginnings in southern Chile to her untimely death, Parra was an exceptionally complex and talented woman who exposed social injustice in Latin America to the world through her powerful and poignant songwriting. This examination of her creative, political, and personal life, flaws and all, illuminates the depth and agency of Parra’s journey as she invented and reinvented herself in her struggle to be recognized as an artist on her own terms.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Thanks to Life?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general > Biography: arts and entertainment

Where can I read a sample of Thanks to Life?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469682945

How long is Thanks to Life and how many pages does it have?

Thanks to Life has 456 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Thanks to Life?

Ericka Kim Verba

Who is the Publisher of the book Thanks to Life?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Thanks to Life is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469682945) and paperback(ISBN 9781469682952) and ebook(ISBN 9781469679631) and ebook(ISBN 9781469682976) and ebook(ISBN 9781469682983) and pdf(ISBN 9781469682969)

Where can I buy Thanks to Life online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy Thanks to Life?