Francisco Coloane Cárdenas (Latin American Spanish: [fɾanˈsisko koloˈane]; July 19, 1910 – August 5, 2002) was a Chilean writer of novels and short stories. His books have been translated into many languages. Some of his books were turned into plays and movies.

Biography

He was born in Quemchi, Chiloé Province, on the southern Chilean island of Chiloé. His writing career began with the book Perros, Caballos y Hombres ("Dogs, Horses and Men") in 1935 and continued until he published his memoirs, Los Pasos del Hombre ("The Steps of Man"), in 2000.

Some of his most famous works, translated into several languages including English, French, Italian, Greek, German, Polish, and Dutch, include: La Tierra del Fuego se Apagó ("Tierra del Fuego Has Burnt Out," 1945), Golfo de Penas ("Gulf of Sorrow," 1957), El Camino de la Ballena ("The Whale's Path," 1962), El Guanaco Blanco ("The White Guanaco," 1980), and El Corazón del Témpano ("The Heart of the Iceberg," 1991).

Coloane received the Premio Nacional de Literatura (Chilean National Prize for Literature) in 1964. In 1997, he was honored with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Republic, where his work in the 1990s earned him widespread recognition.

Coloane was an active member of the Communist Party of Chile throughout most of his adult life. He loved nature and celebrated his 89th birthday by swimming in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean, which he believed kept him "vital and active."

Miguel Littín’s movie Tierra del Fuego is based on one of Coloane’s works.

After his death, the Chilean government recognized him as a key figure in 20th-century Chilean literature.