Luis Rosales
Luis Rosales (1910-1992) was a prominent Spanish poet born in Granada, Spain. He studied philosophy and letters in Madrid, where he was influenced by notable figures like Joaquín Amigo and established connections with other poets inspired by Antonio Machado. Rosales published his first poems in 1932 and his debut poetry collection, *Abril*, in 1935, showcasing a lyrical style that diverged from the avant-garde trends of his time. His life was deeply affected by the Spanish Civil War, particularly through his friendship with the ill-fated Federico García Lorca, who sought refuge in Rosales' home before his execution by Falangists. Following the war, Rosales emerged as a leading voice of the Generation of 1936, publishing around twenty-eight volumes of poetry and essays, including his acclaimed work *Rimas, 1937-1951*. He received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the prestigious Cervantes Award in 1982 and was a member of the Real Academia de la Lengua. Despite suffering strokes in his later years that affected his health, Rosales left a lasting legacy as one of the most significant poets of the twentieth century in Spain.
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Luis Rosales
Poet
- Born: May 31, 1910
- Birthplace: Grenada, Spain
- Died: October 24, 1992
- Place of death: Cercedilla, Spain
Biography
Luis Rosales was born in Granada, Spain, on May 31, 1910, to Miguel Rosales Vallecillos and Esperanza Camacho de Rosales. Rosales was one of six children. He attended school in Granada, then moved to Madrid to study philosophy and letters. Joaquín Amigo, a friend and teacher to Rosales, influenced him greatly and was responsible for his introduction to writer Frederico García Lorca in 1930.
In Madrid, Rosales developed a friendship with three other poets whose work demonstrated the influence of poet Antonio Machado. In 1932, Rosales published his first poems in the journal Los cuatro vientos. His first book of poetry, Abril, appeared in 1935. This volume represented a new approach to poetry, one that rejected the avant-garde and emphasized lyricism.
In 1936, the events of the day intruded into the life of the young poet. Although he had avoided politics, his brothers were active members of the Falangists, a fascist group associated with General Francisco Franco. Granada was a hotbed of activity, and Rosales’ friend García Lorca was caught in the violence. He appealed to Rosales for help and stayed in Rosales’ home between August 10 and 15 while a group of Falangists looked for him. He was found and taken into custody on August 16. Although Rosales worked for his friend’s release, he was unsuccessful and the Falangists executed García Lorca a few days after his arrest. Rosales himself was placed under house arrest but was saved by a Falangist, who offered him a job. Rosales refused and moved to Pamplona, where he wrote poetry, much of it describing the devastation of the war.
Over the next years, Rosales published some twenty-eight volumes of poetry and essays. He was generally regarded as the leader of the Generation of 1936 and was very active in the Spanish literary scene, founding and directing the journal Escorial from 1940 to 1950. Rosales also participated in poetry readings in Madrid organized by the government in 1943. His book, Rimas, 1937-1951, published in 1951, is considered to be Rosales’ greatest work. During these years he also participated in many important literary journals, including Cuadernos Hispanoamericanos, which he directed from 1958 to 1965.
Rosales received much recognition and many awards during his life, including the Premio Nacional de Poesía for La casa encendida in 1949; the Bonsoms award in 1960; the Nacional Miguel de Unamuno in 1972; the José María Lacalle de Poesía in 1975; the Mariano de Cavia; the Nacional de Literatura; and the Cervantes Award in 1982. He was elected into the Real Academia de la Lengua in 1962.
Rosales suffered a stroke in 1984 that severely impaired his speech and mobility. On October 20, 1992, he suffered another serious stroke, and he died on October 24. By the time of Rosales’ death, he was recognized as one of the leading poets of the twentieth century. His participation as a member of the Generation of 1936 and his influence on post-Spanish Civil War poetry cannot be overestimated.