
Collected Poems (Rimas)
Gustavo Adolfo Becquer(Author)
Shearsman Books (Publisher)
Published on 15. October 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
184 pages
978-1-905700-65-3 (ISBN)
Description
Gustavo Adolfo Becquer was one of Spain's most important poets of the 19th century, and the instigator of a new Spanish version of Romanticism, influenced by German models such as Heine. Born in Seville in 1836, the son of an artist of Flemish origin, he lived only 34 years, but in that time created a hugely influential body of verse (his Rimas, or Rhymes) as well as several short fictions (the Leyendas, or Legends). His other works include a remarkable series of letters, or epistolary fictions, published as Desde mi celda (From My Cell). Orphaned at the age of five, Becquer was raised by an elderly, and childless, uncle. A talented artist himself - as was also his brother, Valeriano - he became a pupil at a local studio in Seville, but gave this up in favour of a literary career, heading for Madrid at the age of eighteen, full of hope. He obtained a minor post in the civil-service, thanks to his uncle's influence, but was not cut out for such a routine job and was dismissed. For some time thereafter he was a typical Bohemian artist, living on very little while trying to write, and scratching a small income from the translation of foreign novels, and from part-time journalism.Towards the end of his life he obtained another government post, as a censor, but when he died, it was in considerable poverty, suffering from pneumonia and liver problems.
His work was only published posthumously, thanks to the efforts of his friends.
His work was only published posthumously, thanks to the efforts of his friends.
More details
Language
English
Spanish
Place of publication
Exeter
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
black & white illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
240 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-905700-65-3 (9781905700653)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Born in Seville in 1836, the son of an artist of Flemish origin, he lived only 34 years but in that time created a hugely influential body of verse (his Rimas, or Rhymes) as well as several short fictions (the Leyendas, or Legends). His other works include a remarkable series of letters, or epistolary fictions, published as Desde mi celda (From My Cell).Orphaned at the age of five, Becquer was raised by an elderly, and childless, uncle. A talented artist himself - as was also his brother, Valeriano - he became a pupil at a local studio in Seville, but gave this up in favour of a literary career, heading for Madrid at the age of eighteen, full of hope. He obtained a minor post in the civil-service, thanks to his uncle's influence, but was not cut out for such a routine job and was dismissed. For some time thereafter he was a typical Bohemian artist, living on very little while trying to write, and scratching a small income from the translation of foreign novels, and from part-time journalism. Towards the end of his life he obtained another government post, as a censor, but when he died, it was in considerable poverty, suffering from pneumonia and liver problems. His work was only published posthumously, thanks to the efforts of his friends.