José Antonio Dávila
Encyclopedia
Dr. José Antonio Dávila (October 7, 1898 – December 4, 1941) was a well-known poet
during Puerto Rico's postmodern
era of poetry.
into a literary family. He received both his primary and secondary education in his hometown and went to high school in Santurce
, San Juan
.
and later transferred to Thomas Jefferson University
in Philadelphia
where he studied medicine
, earning his medical degree
in 1924. After graduating he established his medical practice in that city. He was married to Alma Blake with whom he had a son (José Antonio Dávila, Jr.). Dávila became ill and had to abandon his medical practice. He was interned at the Saranac Lake Hospital in New York
, but returned to Puerto Rico in 1930.
Dávila became a renowned poet and received an award from the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture for his poem Vendimia (1940). His main source of inspiration was his father, the renowned poet and Mayor
of Bayamon, Virgilio Dávila
.
Davila also wrote a biography of the Bayamonese musician and composer Mariano Feliú Balseiro.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
during Puerto Rico's postmodern
Postmodernism
Postmodernism is a philosophical movement evolved in reaction to modernism, the tendency in contemporary culture to accept only objective truth and to be inherently suspicious towards a global cultural narrative or meta-narrative. Postmodernist thought is an intentional departure from the...
era of poetry.
Life and career
Dávila was born and raised in the City of Bayamon, Puerto RicoBayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
into a literary family. He received both his primary and secondary education in his hometown and went to high school in Santurce
Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...
, San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
.
Early years
In 1918, he enrolled in the University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
and later transferred to Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University is a private health sciences university in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. The university consists of six constituent colleges and schools, Jefferson Medical College, Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, Jefferson School of Health...
in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
where he studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, earning his medical degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1924. After graduating he established his medical practice in that city. He was married to Alma Blake with whom he had a son (José Antonio Dávila, Jr.). Dávila became ill and had to abandon his medical practice. He was interned at the Saranac Lake Hospital in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, but returned to Puerto Rico in 1930.
Dávila became a renowned poet and received an award from the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture for his poem Vendimia (1940). His main source of inspiration was his father, the renowned poet and Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Bayamon, Virgilio Dávila
Virgilio Dávila
Virgilio Dávila , was a Puerto Rican poet, educator, politician and businessman. He is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest representatives of the modern literary era.-Early years:...
.
Written works
Much of Dávila's work was published posthumously. Besides Vendimia, his other works are:- Los Motivos de Tristan ('The Motives of Tristan') (1957)
- Poemas (Poems) (1964)
- Almacen de Baratijas
Davila also wrote a biography of the Bayamonese musician and composer Mariano Feliú Balseiro.
Later years
Dr. Dávila died in the City of Bayamon on December 4, 1941 and is buried in the city's Porta Coeli Cemetery, next to his father. In his memory the City of Bayamon has named a school and an avenue after him.See also
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican literature