Ángel González
Encyclopedia
Ángel González Muñiz was a major Spanish
poet of the twentieth century.
González was born in Oviedo
. He took a law degree at the University of Oviedo
and, in 1950, moved to Madrid
to work in Civil Administration. It was in Madrid that he first began to write and publish his poetry, becoming friends with many of the leading Spanish writers who encouraged his work. His first book of poems, Áspero mundo ("Harsh World"), was an immediate critical success. His second book, Grado elemental ("Elementary Grade"), was published in Paris
and won the prestigious Antonio Machado Prize for Poetry. He published eight more books of poetry and edited several anthologies and books of literary criticism, including critical editions on the poetry of Juan Ramón Jiménez
and Antonio Machado
. Two books have appeared in English translation: Harsh World and Other Poems (Princeton University Press, 1977, translated by Donald Walsh) and Astonishing World: The Selected Poems of Ángel González (Milkweed Editions, 1993, translated by Steven Ford Brown
).
He is also the recipient of the Angel María de Lera Hispanism Prize for his contributions to Hispanic Culture from the University of Colorado
(U.S.
), the Príncipe de Asturias Prize (Spain), the Salerno
Poetry Prize (Italy
) and the Premio Reina Sofía Iberoamericas Prize (Spain). In 1997 he was appointed as the Chair of the Real Academia Española
. In 2004 he was awarded the inaugural Federico García Lorca
Poetry Prize by the City of Granada. His work is represented in the major anthologies of Spanish poetry of the 20th century, and is also included in the Vintage Book Of Contemporary World Poetry (Random House, 1996). He taught at the University of New Mexico
from 1974 to 1994. Before his death in January 2008 in Madrid
, he divided his time between New Mexico
and Spain. Songwriter Joaquín Sabina
dedicated him the song Menos dos alas, included in his latest album Vinagre y Rosas.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
poet of the twentieth century.
González was born in Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
. He took a law degree at the University of Oviedo
University of Oviedo
The University of Oviedo is a public university in Asturias . It's the only university in the region. It has three campus and research centres, located in Oviedo, Gijón and Mieres.-History:...
and, in 1950, moved to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
to work in Civil Administration. It was in Madrid that he first began to write and publish his poetry, becoming friends with many of the leading Spanish writers who encouraged his work. His first book of poems, Áspero mundo ("Harsh World"), was an immediate critical success. His second book, Grado elemental ("Elementary Grade"), was published in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and won the prestigious Antonio Machado Prize for Poetry. He published eight more books of poetry and edited several anthologies and books of literary criticism, including critical editions on the poetry of Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez Mantecón was a Spanish poet, a prolific writer who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1956. One of Jiménez's most important contributions to modern poetry was his advocacy of the French concept of "pure poetry."-Biography:Jiménez was born in Moguer, near Huelva, in...
and Antonio Machado
Antonio Machado
Antonio Cipriano José María y Francisco de Santa Ana Machado y Ruiz, known as Antonio Machado was a Spanish poet and one of the leading figures of the Spanish literary movement known as the Generation of '98....
. Two books have appeared in English translation: Harsh World and Other Poems (Princeton University Press, 1977, translated by Donald Walsh) and Astonishing World: The Selected Poems of Ángel González (Milkweed Editions, 1993, translated by Steven Ford Brown
Steven Ford Brown
Steven Ford Brown is an American journalist, music critic, publisher and translator in Boston, Massachusetts. Brown grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After moving to Boston he worked for several local universities...
).
He is also the recipient of the Angel María de Lera Hispanism Prize for his contributions to Hispanic Culture from the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
(U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), the Príncipe de Asturias Prize (Spain), the Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
Poetry Prize (Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) and the Premio Reina Sofía Iberoamericas Prize (Spain). In 1997 he was appointed as the Chair of the Real Academia Española
Real Academia Española
The Royal Spanish Academy is the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, Spain, but is affiliated with national language academies in twenty-one other hispanophone nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies...
. In 2004 he was awarded the inaugural Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
Poetry Prize by the City of Granada. His work is represented in the major anthologies of Spanish poetry of the 20th century, and is also included in the Vintage Book Of Contemporary World Poetry (Random House, 1996). He taught at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
from 1974 to 1994. Before his death in January 2008 in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, he divided his time between New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and Spain. Songwriter Joaquín Sabina
Joaquín Sabina
Joaquín Ramón Martínez Sabina , known artistically as Joaquín Sabina, is a singer, songwriter, and poet. He has released fourteen studio albums, two live albums, and three compilation albums...
dedicated him the song Menos dos alas, included in his latest album Vinagre y Rosas.
Books in Spanish
- Aspero mundo, M., Col. Adonais, 1956.(Accésit Premio Adonáis 1955).
- Sin esperanza, con convencimiento, B., Colliure, 1961.
- Grado elemental, París, Ruedo Ibérico, 1962 (Premio Antonio Machado).
- Palabra sobre palabra, M., Poesía para todos, 1965, 1972 y 1977.
- Tratado de urbanismo, B., Col. El Bardo, 1967.
- Palabra sobre palabra, B., Seix Barral, 1968 (Poesía completa).
- Breves acotaciones para una biografía, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Inventarios provisionales, 1971.
- Procedimientos narrativos, Santander, La isla de los ratones, 1972.
- Muestra, corregida y aumentada, de algunos procedimientos narrativos y de las actitudes..., M., Turner, 1977.
- Prosemas o menos, 1984.
- A todo amor, 1988.
- Deixis en fantasma, M., Hiperión, 1992.
- Lecciones de cosas y otros poemas, 1998.
- 101 + 19 = 120 poemas, Madrid, Visor, 1999.
- Otoños y otras luces, B., Tusquets, 2001.
- Palabra sobre palabra, Barcelona, Seix Barral, 2005 (Poesía completa).
Books In English translation
- Astonishing World, The Selected Poems of Angel Gonzalez, tr. Steven Ford Brown, Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 1993.
- Harsh World and Other Poems, tr. by Donald Walsh, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1977.
Anthologies
- Modern World Literature, Houghton Mifflin, 2001.
- Poesie Espagnole, 1945-1990, ed. Claude de Frayssine, UNESCO, 1995.
- The Vintage Anthology of Contemporary World Poetry, ed. J.D. McClatchy, Vintage/Random House, 1996.
- The Penguin Book of Spanish Verse, ed. J.M. Cohen, Penguin Books, 1988.
- Recent Poetry From Spain, ed. Louis Hammer and Sara Schyfter, Sachem Press, 1983.
- Roots & Wings: Spanish Poetry 1900-1975, ed. Hardie St. Martin, Harper & Row, 1975.
External links
- An interview with Ángel González
- Ángel González website
- Ángel González at Steven Ford Brown website
- Ángel González at Spanish Wikipedia