Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen
Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen was a prominent Portuguese poet and writer born in Oporto in 1919. Growing up in a literary environment, she developed a passion for reading early in life, notably finding resonance in Homer's "The Odyssey." Although she started her education in Lisbon, she became an influential figure in the city’s literary scene without completing her formal schooling. She published her first collection of poetry in 1944, characterized by a minimalist style with little to no punctuation, which evolved over time while maintaining a pure and essential essence.
Andresen was not only celebrated for her literary contributions, receiving numerous awards such as the 1964 Grand Prize for Poetry and the 2003 Reina Sofia Prize, but she also used her platform to address social injustices. An outspoken critic of the Portuguese dictator Salazar, she remained politically active following the Carnation Revolution of 1974 and briefly served in the socialist government before resigning due to her discomfort with political life. In addition to poetry, she translated works by major literary figures and authored children's literature, collaborating with her five children. Her children's books have become enduring favorites in Portugal, reflecting her broad literary impact across genres. Andresen passed away in 2004, leaving behind a rich legacy as one of Portugal's most significant 20th-century poets.
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Subject Terms
Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen
Writer
- Born: November 6, 1919
- Birthplace: Oporto, Portugal
- Died: July 2, 2004
- Place of death: Lisbon, Portugal
Biography
Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen was born in Oporto, Portugal, in 1919. Her mother was an avid reader of French novels, and Sophia also learned to love reading at a young age. When she was twelve years old, she found a French translation of Homer’s The Odyssey, which she thought was a story that was readily understandable to children. She once remarked that Homer’s novels made winter for her feel as warm and peaceful as a summer vacation by the sea.
As a young woman Andresen left Oporto to study at the university in Lisbon. She did not finish her schooling but remained in the city and was a vital part of the literary community until her death in 2004. She published her first book of poems in 1944. Her classical style of poetry used little punctuation; her later poetry had virtually none. Later publications became intellectually richer and thematically broader but her pure, essential style remained. She once remarked, “The whitewashed stone houses, the palaces and simpler structures, the facades with their glazed tiles, which are a legacy from the Moors, full of reflections, like mirrors, full of imagination, our imaginations interacting with the tiles I think that all of this enters into my poetry.”
One of Portugal’s most important twentieth century poets, she won many literary prizes including the 1964 Grand Prize for Poetry by the Portuguese Writers Society for her book Canto sexto. The year before she died, she was honored with the 2003 Reina Sofia Prize, the most significant honor awarded Portuguese, Spanish, and Latin American writers.
Andresen’s poetry exposed and denounced injustice and evil. In Portugal, she was known simply by her first name, and she used her fame to address social ills and injustice through her involvement in social causes and politics. She was an open critic of Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar, continuing to speak out after the 1974 Revolution. She served in the socialist government that was formed in 1975, but she felt unsuited for political life and resigned from her official duties after almost a year of service.
Andresen translated French poetry, Dante’s Purgatorio, and several plays by William Shakespeare into Portuguese. She published two volumes of short stories and created a small series of children’s books all while rearing her five children. She and her children collaborated on the children’s books. She would begin a story and her children would edit it, adding details and making changes. Decades later, these books remain some of the best-selling works of children’s literature in Portugal.