Eva Peron: Fact vs Fiction
Posted: Wed October 1st, 2014, 10:59 pm
Hi. I've written this to explain what was fact and what was fiction in my self pubbed novel about Eva Peron and would appreciate some feedback.
Whats Fact and Whats Fiction
Eva Peron was born out of wedlock, left her hometown to become an actress, married Juan Peron, became First Lady, toured Europe, started a foundation for the poor, ran an unsuccessful bid for Vice President and died tragically young at the height of her power, of cancer, at the age of 33. These are the bare bones of the story and the only facts about which both her admirers and detractors agree upon.
Eva Peron was fascinating yet frustrating to research and write about- because outside of this basic outline of her life, almost no source agrees. Madonna once stated that finding out that there was no middle ground on an opinion of Evita and desired to know the truth. I actually agree with Madonna and thus began my own similar quest to discover the real Evita.
Evas childhood is shrouded in mystery. We do know for a fact she was the final child born to Juan Duarte and Juana Ibarguren, that her parents were not married and that her father died when she was seven. The incident with the doll has been recorded in several biographies of her as well as her familys own account of Evas life, Mi Hermana Evita, a sentimental memoir written by Evas closest sister, Erminda. The incident with the burning in Chapter One has only been cited in Martinezs novel Santa Evita, and I have not found it in any other source. However, I chose to include it evoke a sense of sympathy for Eva. Its known she was close to her brother Juan and sister Erminda. However, we do not know much about her schooling days or her childhood so I have had to recreate the first two chapters of Evita: My Life almost from scratch.
Evas acting career is also shrouded in mystery. Eva did this on purpose since when she became First Lady since she considered her past career beneath her new position. Still, there was more to go by here and more facts to stick to than her childhood. For Evas acting days and Chapters Three through Five , I am indebted to El Aljadrez de la Gloria: Evita Duarte Actriz for the photos and titles of her plays and films that do survive. The names of the companies and producers Eva worked for are known, however, the liasions she must have had with her boyfriends before Emilio Kartulowicz are not. Thus, Miguel Gonzalez is fictional, however, I have recreated him from a kind Ecuadorian man I dated from the years 2005 to 2010 who encouraged me to research Evita, much as Miguel encouraged Eva to continue as an actress.
In the 1940s it is unknown why Eva quit working. The official reason was as stated in my novel- that she had not been offered a role worth of her. However many theories abound, the most unforgiving (and also the most unlikely) that she was a Nazi spy at this time. However, while Peron did sympathize with Nazis in his reign, Eva was unknown at this time as an actress, let alone as a spy. Also, at this time, Evas ambitions were not political but purely artistic. I have invented the tale of a miscarriage since I found some references to Eva having miscarriages in Dujone Ortizs biography. However, we truly do not know where Eva disappeared to during this time. Her official explanation is as good as anything else.
It is true Eva moved in with Peron practically from day one, and that she packed out his teenage mistress .However, the exact details are unknown. Peron is said to have claimed Eva moved in gradually whereas Eva said she moved in all at once. I have chosen to present Evas version since the novel is told from her perspective, however, in this case Peron is the one who is likely closer to the truth.
Perons rise to power is well-documented, and it is here that Eva begins to emerge as a political figure in her own right in spite of the fact that she did very little to aid him in this aspect. Thats right, Eva did nothing that October 17th, but both Peronist and anti Peronist mythology have either portrayed her as a loyal wife who trusted fate or as a rabble rouser that ended Argentinas prosperity. In reality Eva was nearly as hated as Peron and did hide out during this time.
Evas Rainbow Tour is well documented, as well as her friendship with Liliane Guardo. She was well received in Spain and I have tried to remain as true as I could to what most biographies stated about her relationship with the Francos. While Franco and Peron shared similar political statements, he and Peron were not exactly the best of friends, as is often the case with political alliances. Mrs. Franco was also the exact opposite of Evita and often relationships like this either go very well or very poorly. Ive known two women in my life who were stay at home momsone is one of my absolute best friends and the other will not even speak to me now. Eva and Mrs. Franco obviously fell into the latter category. There could not be two women more different in spite of their shared Hispanic heritage.
Eva was not well received in Italy or France. In Italy she was painted often as a communist and a whore. Keep in mind, though, Italy had just emerged from World War Two and the Italians equated Peron with Mussolini. Peron did indeed borrow much from Mussolini. Eva was not hated in France, but they were disinterested in her. Most of the things I have had take place in Evas sojourn in France did occur.
However, I could not resist a chance to recreate post World War Two France or name many figures from this time period, namely Charles DeGaulle and the fictional scene of Evita with Madame DeGaulle. Indeed, this was almost a premonition on my part for not long after I finished Evita I began to become as intrigued by the French culture as a woman in her mid 20s as I had by the Hispanic one in my teens. Its known Eva was well treated by Georges Bidault and his wife. Its not known if she met Charles DeGaulle, however, the scene between Charles DeGaulle and Madame DeGaulle was too irresistible as a novelist for me not to include.
Evas return to Argentina is well documented however, many biographies have not included her sojourn in Brazil and Uruguay. This is where being a novelist I had great freedom. It is true that in Uruguay she was not well receivedmany of her enemies there found her too close for comfort. In Brazil she truly did listen to George Marshall speak.
Eva never met Eleanor Roosevelt. However, once more I could not resist creating a meeting between these two great ladies, nor creating this tribute to a woman who made such a great impact on my own beloved country. The two of them would have liked each other I believe since both were champions of women and the downtrodden. Indeed, when Eva died, Eleanor is said to have stated she was as beautiful as she was brave. Perhaps Eva and Eleanor had a secret meeting somewhere? Well never know.
Evas slide into illness is well documented, almost too much so. However, its not known how Peron truly treated her. Many unsympathetic accounts portray Peron as abandoning her. While I wrote this as a memoir of Eva, many of Perons actions do indicate that her detractors are closer to the truth that her admirers on this. Its known he did have a mistress, Nelly Rivas, not long after Evas death. However, we dont know if Eva knew about it. Happily, though, Peron was at her bedside when she died and I imagine the two did get to say good bye to each other. Peron did have a kind side.
What happened after Evas death was almost as remarkable as her life. But for that I recommend either the biography Evita: The Real life of Eva Peron, or Tomas Eloy Martinezs Santa Evita, since I chose to tell the stor of Evas life and not her afterlife. However, to summarize, Perons rule ended in an overthrow in 1955 and in the meantime Evas corpse, which was remarkably well preserved, was removed from Argentina and hidden all over the world. In the meantime, various governments tried various strategies to reclaim Argentinas lost splendors and while some enjoyed success, around the 1960s, the very people who had so hated Peron began clamoring for his return.
By now, Peron had remarried. His third wife, Isabel Peron, had a background similar to Evas, in that she grew up poor, had her father die when she was young, and she became a dancer. Isabel , however, lacked Evas drive and charisma and was more of a companion and friend to Peron than a partner. She moved with him across the Caribbean and to Spain and in the meantime made trips back to Argentina to make speeches on her husbands behalf. In 1973, Peron final returned to Argentina and became president a third time, but died of a heart attack the next year. Isabel Peron became President of Argentina, the first woman to rule a nation in the Western hemisphere.
Sadly, Isabels reign was a disaster and she was overthrown in 1976. Before her overthrow, she had Evas corpse returned to Argentina after a long sojourn in Italy, where it had been hidden under a false name. Eva was buried in the Recoleta, an illustrious cemetery for the Argentine elites. Her neighbors in death are the very oligarchs she so hated and who so hated her.
Whats Fact and Whats Fiction
Eva Peron was born out of wedlock, left her hometown to become an actress, married Juan Peron, became First Lady, toured Europe, started a foundation for the poor, ran an unsuccessful bid for Vice President and died tragically young at the height of her power, of cancer, at the age of 33. These are the bare bones of the story and the only facts about which both her admirers and detractors agree upon.
Eva Peron was fascinating yet frustrating to research and write about- because outside of this basic outline of her life, almost no source agrees. Madonna once stated that finding out that there was no middle ground on an opinion of Evita and desired to know the truth. I actually agree with Madonna and thus began my own similar quest to discover the real Evita.
Evas childhood is shrouded in mystery. We do know for a fact she was the final child born to Juan Duarte and Juana Ibarguren, that her parents were not married and that her father died when she was seven. The incident with the doll has been recorded in several biographies of her as well as her familys own account of Evas life, Mi Hermana Evita, a sentimental memoir written by Evas closest sister, Erminda. The incident with the burning in Chapter One has only been cited in Martinezs novel Santa Evita, and I have not found it in any other source. However, I chose to include it evoke a sense of sympathy for Eva. Its known she was close to her brother Juan and sister Erminda. However, we do not know much about her schooling days or her childhood so I have had to recreate the first two chapters of Evita: My Life almost from scratch.
Evas acting career is also shrouded in mystery. Eva did this on purpose since when she became First Lady since she considered her past career beneath her new position. Still, there was more to go by here and more facts to stick to than her childhood. For Evas acting days and Chapters Three through Five , I am indebted to El Aljadrez de la Gloria: Evita Duarte Actriz for the photos and titles of her plays and films that do survive. The names of the companies and producers Eva worked for are known, however, the liasions she must have had with her boyfriends before Emilio Kartulowicz are not. Thus, Miguel Gonzalez is fictional, however, I have recreated him from a kind Ecuadorian man I dated from the years 2005 to 2010 who encouraged me to research Evita, much as Miguel encouraged Eva to continue as an actress.
In the 1940s it is unknown why Eva quit working. The official reason was as stated in my novel- that she had not been offered a role worth of her. However many theories abound, the most unforgiving (and also the most unlikely) that she was a Nazi spy at this time. However, while Peron did sympathize with Nazis in his reign, Eva was unknown at this time as an actress, let alone as a spy. Also, at this time, Evas ambitions were not political but purely artistic. I have invented the tale of a miscarriage since I found some references to Eva having miscarriages in Dujone Ortizs biography. However, we truly do not know where Eva disappeared to during this time. Her official explanation is as good as anything else.
It is true Eva moved in with Peron practically from day one, and that she packed out his teenage mistress .However, the exact details are unknown. Peron is said to have claimed Eva moved in gradually whereas Eva said she moved in all at once. I have chosen to present Evas version since the novel is told from her perspective, however, in this case Peron is the one who is likely closer to the truth.
Perons rise to power is well-documented, and it is here that Eva begins to emerge as a political figure in her own right in spite of the fact that she did very little to aid him in this aspect. Thats right, Eva did nothing that October 17th, but both Peronist and anti Peronist mythology have either portrayed her as a loyal wife who trusted fate or as a rabble rouser that ended Argentinas prosperity. In reality Eva was nearly as hated as Peron and did hide out during this time.
Evas Rainbow Tour is well documented, as well as her friendship with Liliane Guardo. She was well received in Spain and I have tried to remain as true as I could to what most biographies stated about her relationship with the Francos. While Franco and Peron shared similar political statements, he and Peron were not exactly the best of friends, as is often the case with political alliances. Mrs. Franco was also the exact opposite of Evita and often relationships like this either go very well or very poorly. Ive known two women in my life who were stay at home momsone is one of my absolute best friends and the other will not even speak to me now. Eva and Mrs. Franco obviously fell into the latter category. There could not be two women more different in spite of their shared Hispanic heritage.
Eva was not well received in Italy or France. In Italy she was painted often as a communist and a whore. Keep in mind, though, Italy had just emerged from World War Two and the Italians equated Peron with Mussolini. Peron did indeed borrow much from Mussolini. Eva was not hated in France, but they were disinterested in her. Most of the things I have had take place in Evas sojourn in France did occur.
However, I could not resist a chance to recreate post World War Two France or name many figures from this time period, namely Charles DeGaulle and the fictional scene of Evita with Madame DeGaulle. Indeed, this was almost a premonition on my part for not long after I finished Evita I began to become as intrigued by the French culture as a woman in her mid 20s as I had by the Hispanic one in my teens. Its known Eva was well treated by Georges Bidault and his wife. Its not known if she met Charles DeGaulle, however, the scene between Charles DeGaulle and Madame DeGaulle was too irresistible as a novelist for me not to include.
Evas return to Argentina is well documented however, many biographies have not included her sojourn in Brazil and Uruguay. This is where being a novelist I had great freedom. It is true that in Uruguay she was not well receivedmany of her enemies there found her too close for comfort. In Brazil she truly did listen to George Marshall speak.
Eva never met Eleanor Roosevelt. However, once more I could not resist creating a meeting between these two great ladies, nor creating this tribute to a woman who made such a great impact on my own beloved country. The two of them would have liked each other I believe since both were champions of women and the downtrodden. Indeed, when Eva died, Eleanor is said to have stated she was as beautiful as she was brave. Perhaps Eva and Eleanor had a secret meeting somewhere? Well never know.
Evas slide into illness is well documented, almost too much so. However, its not known how Peron truly treated her. Many unsympathetic accounts portray Peron as abandoning her. While I wrote this as a memoir of Eva, many of Perons actions do indicate that her detractors are closer to the truth that her admirers on this. Its known he did have a mistress, Nelly Rivas, not long after Evas death. However, we dont know if Eva knew about it. Happily, though, Peron was at her bedside when she died and I imagine the two did get to say good bye to each other. Peron did have a kind side.
What happened after Evas death was almost as remarkable as her life. But for that I recommend either the biography Evita: The Real life of Eva Peron, or Tomas Eloy Martinezs Santa Evita, since I chose to tell the stor of Evas life and not her afterlife. However, to summarize, Perons rule ended in an overthrow in 1955 and in the meantime Evas corpse, which was remarkably well preserved, was removed from Argentina and hidden all over the world. In the meantime, various governments tried various strategies to reclaim Argentinas lost splendors and while some enjoyed success, around the 1960s, the very people who had so hated Peron began clamoring for his return.
By now, Peron had remarried. His third wife, Isabel Peron, had a background similar to Evas, in that she grew up poor, had her father die when she was young, and she became a dancer. Isabel , however, lacked Evas drive and charisma and was more of a companion and friend to Peron than a partner. She moved with him across the Caribbean and to Spain and in the meantime made trips back to Argentina to make speeches on her husbands behalf. In 1973, Peron final returned to Argentina and became president a third time, but died of a heart attack the next year. Isabel Peron became President of Argentina, the first woman to rule a nation in the Western hemisphere.
Sadly, Isabels reign was a disaster and she was overthrown in 1976. Before her overthrow, she had Evas corpse returned to Argentina after a long sojourn in Italy, where it had been hidden under a false name. Eva was buried in the Recoleta, an illustrious cemetery for the Argentine elites. Her neighbors in death are the very oligarchs she so hated and who so hated her.