Juan Ramon JimenezAwards:
Nobel Prize in Literature-1956 Nobel Committee
in its citation stated that the prize was given for
"for his lyrical poetry, which in
Spanish language constitutes an example of high spirit and artistical
purity. "
Born: 24/12/1881 in Moguer, Spain
Died: 29/05/1958 in San Juan, Puerto
Rico
Citizen: Spanish
Language: Spanish
Jimenez studied Law at the
University of Seville but never even aspired to become a lawyer. He
went to Madrid in 1900 at the invitation of Ruben Dario who was a
poet. His first 2 books were published in the same year when he was
19. His father died also in the same year which left the sensitive
Jimenez shattered. He suffered several bouts of depression and was
sent to Paris for treatment. There, he had a fling with his doctor's
wife after which he was sent to a sanatorium in Madrid where again he
had a string of affairs with the nurses. At this period, he wrote
several erotic poems. The Mother Superior of the Sanatorium discovered
the objectionable activity of Jiminez and expelled him. Jimenez, many
times , described music and color in his poems which he compared to
love or lust.
When
the Spanish
Civil War
broke out,, he and wife Zenobia went into exile in Cuba,
the United States,
and Puerto Rico,
where he settled in 1946. Jiménez was hospitalized for eight months
due to another deep depression. He later became a Professor of Spanish
Language and Literature at the University
of Maryland, College Park
Jimenez was primarily a poet and his poetic
outpouring was stupendous. Ironically, it was his prose piece, Platero
y yo published in 1947 which made him immensely popular throughout
Latin America. The work was translated to English and he got noticed
in the English speaking countries including USA.
Landmark: Two days after
receiving the Nobel Prize, his wife died of ovarian cancer. Jimenez
never got over the loss and died two years later, in the same clinic
where his wife had died. Both are buried in the home town of Monguer,
Spain. * The name of Jimenez is familiar to the students of University
of Maryland, the language building of which is named after the poet.
Notable Works:
Platero y yo--Platero and I(1917),
Sonetos espirituales (1914–1916) -1916;
“Spiritual Sonnets, 1914–15”,
Piedra y cielo-Stones and Sky(1919),
Voces de mi copla- Voices of my Song(1945),Animal
de fondo--
Animal at Bottom(1947)
Order Juan Ramon Jimenez's Books below
|
