Manuel da Fonseca
Manuel da Fonseca was a notable Portuguese author born in 1911, known for his poignant reflections on the lives of the marginalized in society. He grew up in Santiago and later pursued studies at the Fine Arts Academy in Lisbon, though he did not graduate. Da Fonseca's literary career began at the age of twenty-nine with his first poetry collection, "Rosa dos ventos," followed by "Planície" in 1941, where he introduced characters that would reappear in his subsequent fiction. His first short-story collection, "Aldeia Nova," published in 1942, garnered critical acclaim for its vivid portrayals of the lower working class. In 1951, he released "O fogo e as cinzas," which captured the socio-political landscape of post-World War II Portugal and became essential reading in schools. Throughout his life, da Fonseca published ten works, primarily focusing on poetry and short stories. His commitment to social issues and critique of political oppression marked his legacy as a significant figure in Portuguese literature. Additionally, his brief imprisonment in 1965 for supporting a censored author highlighted his dedication to freedom of expression.
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Manuel da Fonseca
- Born: October 15, 1911
- Birthplace: Santiago do Cacém, Baixo Alentejo, Portugal
- Died: March 11, 1993
Biography
Manuel da Fonseca was born in 1911 to a middle-class family in Portugal. He grew up in Santiago, where he remained until completing secondary school. Da Fonseca continued his studies in Lisbon, where he attended the Fine Arts Academy. He did not graduate; instead, he worked a variety of jobs. His main interest, though, was always literature. At the age of twenty-nine, da Fonseca published Rosa dos ventos, his first book of poetry. He published his second book of poetry, Planície, a year later in 1941. The characters who appear in these poems resurfaced in da Fonseca’s fiction. The author used these characters to represent the poor and downtrodden who opposed his country’s politics. In 1942, da Fonseca published his first short-story collection, Aldeia Nova, which contained writings that had previously appeared in other publications. Aldeia Nova, which told tales of the lower working class, was released to critical acclaim. In 1951, da Fonseca published his next notable work, O fogo e as cinzas, another collection of short stories. Depicting the post-World War II social climate of Portugal, the book later became required reading in Portuguese schools. In 1965, da Fonseca was briefly imprisoned for granting an award to an incarcerated author whose work had been banned. Da Fonseca published a total of ten works during his lifetime, mainly poetry and short story collections.