Biographies, memoirs and epistolaries appeared among our (so far) genres or less well-known ways. Without further ado, let’s get to the point and the question we’re asking. Do you remember that there are remarkable epistolaries by Lope de Vega, Quevedo or Góngora? Also remember the great correspondence of Juan Valera. More importantly, I pointed out that when we publish the complete correspondence of Vincent Aleixandro, we will do more work. The same can be said of Jorge Guillén (1893-1984). In these spicy cards we see the friendship of Pedro Salinas, the collection of many things (with dicterios) and the culture.
Cartas Teresa (1948-1984)
Jorge Guillén
Galaxia Gutenberg, 2026. 889 pages. €29
These numerous articles, written by your daughter Tereza (1922-2019) in the whole family and surroundings, will show you not only Cosmopolitanism and Guillén’s many travelsaside, generally, more cordial and kind than a person. Guillén appears here as a cabal and a good optimistic rider. The line that Teresa says about the family is received quite well: “How are we alive? Very simple: in love and in truth.”
The first work was written in Paris in 1948 (there is little evidence that the first woman, the Frenchwoman Germaine Cahen, had died) and the last in Málaga – where she spent her time – in February 1983, a year before her death. The expedition turns to set the tone—the poet’s nature—to a rich and carefully written kindly epistle: “Abrazos, besitos. Voestro JORGE.”
The somewhat itinerant Guillén (who lived in EE, UU. and Italy) settled in Spain in 1975, still without entrance or salt. He had come many times before. It was precisely in 1949 that he entered Irún to head to Valladolid. Your intention is to visit your sick father.
Maps will tell you about this path. He then travels to Madrid, where he meets Vicente Aleixandre and various poets, including José Luis Can or Carlos Bousoño. Let me tell you that I met Guillén in October 1973 on one of those “secret” trips that Aleixandre put together. Part of “Tercera España”, Guillén, neither de izquierdas nor fascista (Cernuda llámó a Salinas ya Guillén “Bourgeois Poets”), I didn’t really want to put down roots in Franco’s Spain, but I enjoyed visiting them. Of course, no public events, no conferences, no business meetings.
These abundant cards show not only Guillén’s many travels, but also the man’s warmest and friendliest side.
Teresa Guillen, the main recipient of the cards (and who kept it) I was at home with US Hispanic player Stephen Gilman who was very honored – I remembered his work above Celestine – and another man, Claudio Guillén (“Claudia” colloquially), was a great scholar and world-renowned in comparative literature. “Antó” (by Antonio Gilman) is, I would say, Guillén’s favorite, whose love and sympathy is very visible.
It is logical to understand that in this family, university and university, friends respond to the same cultural canon. And affection reigns in the family environment. Teresa is widely praised as an example, and she concentrates this in an expression that is echoed in her words (very Guillen-esque). Silent says “More, more, more: arrested”.
From the querida and the sound of “Don Américo (Castro)” to meeting Octavio Paz in Montale or Pasolini, we are facing a cult epistolary and culture for loved ones who have a relationship with the saber. Guillén is interested in following (and doing) his work, but in these articles he seems to focus less on the subject than in others. Everything is education, good style, good life. If any reproach rarely escapes. About Total Estación de Juan Ramón Jiménez he says: “Good poems, but the combination is flojo. So what narcissism – it has a satanic degree –!”.
Leave a Reply