José Régio
José Régio, born José Maria dos Reis Pereira on September 17, 1901, in Vila do Conde, Portugal, was a significant figure in modern Portuguese literature, known for his poetry, novels, plays, and literary criticism. Raised in a deeply religious family with a passion for the arts, Régio's early influences shaped his literary voice. He studied Romance languages and literature at the University of Coimbra, where he founded a literary journal called *Presença*, which became a platform for his influential aesthetic views. His notable works include the novel *Jogo da cabra cega*, celebrated for its exploration of psychological and metaphysical themes.
Régio's poetry, such as his first collection *Poemas de Deus e do Diabo*, addresses profound topics like religious and sexual anxiety, advocating for personal freedom. His plays often depict the struggle between individualism and societal norms. From 1945 onward, he also penned an autobiographical series, with the final volume released in 1966. After his death in 1969, his home was transformed into a museum, preserving his legacy and contributions to literature, which are recognized as pivotal in the development of modern Portuguese writing.
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José Régio
Poet
- Born: September 17, 1901
- Birthplace: Vila do Conde, Portugal
- Died: December 22, 1969
- Place of death: Vila do Conde, Portugal
Biography
José Régio was born José Maria dos Reis Pereira on September 17, 1901, in Vila do Conde in northern Portugal. He spent most of his childhood in Vila do Conde. His family was deeply religious and was interested in the arts, and these influences are reflected in his writing. At the age of sixteen, Régio and his brother Julio were sent to Porto to complete their studies. Régio lived in a boarding school for two years prior to attending the University of Coimbra. At the university, he studied Romance languages and literature and he founded a journal, Presenca, which was first published in March, 1927. The first issue of the journal contained one of Régio’s best-known texts, “Literatura viva.” This text is considered the greatest expression of his opinions on literature and aesthetics, and these views were to guide Portuguese literature for many years.
After writing his thesis on modern Portuguese literature, he graduated from the university in 1927. He began to teach high school, first in Porto and later in Portalegre. He lived in Portalegre until 1962, when he moved back to his hometown. Régio died in 1969, and his home in Vila do Conde was converted into a museum dedicated to his work and art collection.
Régio was a prolific writer who published plays, poetry, and literary criticism in addition to his novels. The novel Jogo da cabra cega is considered Régio’s finest achievement. It is one of the best examples of the literary style of Presenca, which is characterized by a concern for psychological and metaphysical questions and aesthetic principles. He published his first book of poetry, Poemas de Deus e do Diabo, in 1925. His poetry reflects his deep concerns regarding religious and sexual anxiety, as well as his belief that every one should be free to live their life as they choose, without fear of reprisal.
Later in life, Régio began writing plays, and the aesthetic universe in which he set his plays is similar to that of his poetry. A repeating theme in his plays is the conflict between a character with a strong, independent individuality and society as a whole. Beginning in 1945, Régio published Uma gota de sangue, the first of five autobiographical works in the A velha casa series. The fifth and final volume of his autobiography, Vidas são vidas, was published in 1966. In addition, Régio published several volumes of short stories and wrote literary criticism. Régio’s contributions to the development of modern Portuguese literature are considered very important, especially in the areas of fiction writing and literary criticism.