Profile of Salvador Novo on Famous Like Me

Salvador Novo (30 July 1904 – 13 January 1974) was a Mexican writer and the official chronicler of Mexico City, where he was born. Novo was a controversial figure in 20th century Mexican society, but an accepted one.

Writer, poet, playwright, translator, television presenter and entrepreneur (he owned a theater and restaurant next to each other), Novo defied machismo by making almost no efforts to conceal his homosexuality. Towards the end of his life, he dyed his hair a bright carrot color and wore many ostentatious rings and colored suits. He was, however, accepted by the Mexican government: he held official posts related to culture, was elected to the Mexican Academy of the Language, and had a television show where he talked about Mexico City's history. He has been compared to Oscar Wilde, but unlike him, Novo never suffered the setback of scandal or persecution and remained an accepted and respected member of society and governmental circles until his death. In fact, some sectors resented the fact that a gay writer would align himself so closely with the government and media after the repression of social movements in the 1960s and 1970s.

In accordance with tradition, the street where he lived was renamed after him when he assumed the role of Mexico City's official chronicler, a post held for life.

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