María Kodama
The enigmatic guardian of Jorge Luis Borges's literary universe, whose own life became intertwined with the myths and labyrinths of his work.
1937–2023 (age 86)·Argentine writer·Birthday: March 10·The Silent Generation
Biography
María Kodama's story is inextricably linked to that of the literary giant Jorge Luis Borges, yet she carved a distinct identity as a scholar and protector of his legacy. Born in Buenos Aires to a Japanese father and German mother, she met Borges as a student when he was already blind, becoming first his literary assistant, then his guide on global journeys. Their relationship, a subject of fascination and sometimes controversy, deepened over decades, culminating in a marriage just months before Borges's death in 1986. As the sole heir and executor of his estate, Kodama wielded immense power over Borges's copyrights, fiercely defending his work from adaptations she deemed unfaithful while promoting his scholarship worldwide. A writer and translator in her own right, she founded the Jorge Luis Borges International Foundation, ensuring his labyrinthine worlds remained accessible, all while navigating the complex shadows cast by his fame.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
María was born in 1937, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When María Was Born
The biggest hits of 1937
#1 Movie
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Best Picture
The Life of Emile Zola
María's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1937Born
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1942Started school
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1950Became a teenager
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1953Could drive
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1955Could vote
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Turned 21
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1967Turned 30
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 40
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 50
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 60
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 70
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 80
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2023Died at 86
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
Key Achievements
- Served as the sole executor and heir of Jorge Luis Borges's literary estate, controlling all copyrights and publications.
- Founded the Jorge Luis Borges International Foundation to promote and preserve the author's work.
- Co-authored travel books with Borges, including 'Atlas', which chronicled their journeys around the world.
- Translated works of Japanese literature into Spanish, contributing to literary cross-pollination.
Did You Know?
She was Borges's reader, travel companion, and secretary for nearly two decades before their marriage.
Kodama's father was a Japanese textile merchant, and she was deeply interested in her Japanese heritage.
She was involved in several legal battles over Borges's estate and the use of his image and work.
Kodama and Borges were married in a private civil ceremony in Paraguay in 1986.
“Borges taught me that a library is a universe, and I became its guardian.”
