Luis Alberto Sanchez; Peruvian Writer, Political Leader

Luis Alberto Sanchez, 93, one of Latin America’s most respected writers and politicians. Sanchez, who had been a prizefighter and fencing champion, wrote more than 100 books and enjoyed a 60-year political career in Peru. After studying literature and law at Lima’s San Marcos University, Sanchez taught there, at UC Berkeley, the Sorbonne in Paris and at universities in Madrid and Jerusalem. He began writing for a Peruvian newspaper in 1919 and continued to write columns and record radio and television commentaries until his death. He wrote dozens of historical novels, volumes of poetry and biographies, including one of Peruvian dictator Augusto Leguia published last year. He was elected twice as assembly member, twice as deputy and four times as senator. In 1985 he became vice president and prime minister under President Alan Garcia. Imprisoned briefly by the military government of President Luis Sanchez Cerro in 1932, Sanchez spent the next 25 years in exile in the United States, France and elsewhere. On Feb. 6 in Lima.