Oliverio Girondo
Oliverio Girondo was a prominent Argentine poet and playwright born in Buenos Aires on August 17, 1891. His early exposure to culture began with a family trip to Paris for the 1900 World's Fair, followed by studies in London and Paris, which shaped his artistic sensibilities. A significant figure in the avant-garde movement in South America, Girondo published his first poetry collection, "Veinte poemas para ser leídos en el tranvía," in France in 1922, gaining recognition as a chief writer and editor for the influential magazine Martín Fierro. His works often called for a distinctive Latin American perspective that embraced global cultural awareness.
Girondo's personal life intertwined with his literary pursuits; he formed a notable relationship with poet Norah Lange, marrying her in 1943. Throughout his career, he explored various themes, transitioning from travel-inspired poems to introspective works, and later embracing prose to convey the connection between Europe and the Americas. His later poetry collections, including "Persuasíon de los días" and "En el masmédula," showcased his innovative language use. Girondo passed away in Buenos Aires in 1967, leaving a significant legacy within the South American literary canon, with continued interest in his works evidenced by posthumous publications and translations.
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Oliverio Girondo
Nonfiction Writer, Playwright and Poet
- Born: August 17, 1891
- Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Died: January 24, 1967
- Place of death: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Biography
Oliverio Girondo was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Juan Girondo and Josefa Uriburu de Girondo on August 17, 1891. In 1900, the family traveled to Paris in order to see the World’s Fair. Girondo studied in both London and Paris. This trip to Europe was to be the first of many for young Girondo.
He graduated from the Colegio Nacional de Buenas Aires in 1908. In 1915, Girondo collaborated on a play with René Zapata Quesada called La madastra (the stepmother). He next turned his interests to poetry, notably that of Rubén Darío. Girondo published his first volume of poetry, Veinte poemas para ser leídos en el tranvía in France in 1922.
His work brought him to the attention of the publishers of a new avant-garde magazine called Martín Fierro, and by 1924, Girondo was one of the chief writers and editors for the journal. As was the style for the modern avant-garde, Girondo wrote a manifesto detailing the group’s artistic and political ideas. Girondo called for a distinctly Latin American sensibility that, at the same time, included a new awareness of world culture. The Martín Fierro group, as they came to be known, attracted some of the most important young intellectuals in South America, including Jorge Luis Borges.
In 1925, Girondo published his second volume of poetry, Calcomanías, in Spain. During this time, members of Girondo’s circle often met at the home of a young redheaded poet named Norah Lange. Although Borges pursued Lange romantically, she preferred Girondo and the two began a long-lasting relationship that eventually led to marriage in 1943. By 1927, political differences in the Martín Fierro group led to a split, and Girondo left the magazine. He and Lange spent the next four years traveling in Europe and Africa, returning to Buenos Aires in 1931. During his travels, Girondo became deeply interested in the work of the French Surrealists.
In 1932, Girondo published Espantapájaros (Al alcance de todos) (scarecrow [in everybody’s reach]). His poems at this point turned from the outer world of his travels to his inner world. During the remaining years of the 1930’s, Girondo wrote mostly prose, attempting to articulate the relationship between Europe and the Americas. By 1942, however, Girondo returned to poetry with his publication of Persuasíon de los días (persuasion of days). In 1954, he published En el masmédula (in the moremarrow), a volume that proved to be his most controversial in its innovations with language. In 1967, Girondo died in Buenos Aires.
Always at the center of the South American avant-garde, Girondo retained his distinctly American voice while embracing features of European culture. His generosity of spirit, his complete devotion to his art, and his willingness to mentor an entire generation of writers places him in an elite category of twentieth century writers. Moreover, the posthumous publication of his compete works as well as a translation into English of Scarecrow, and Other Anomalies in 2002 signals ongoing critical interest in his work.