Alfonso Vallejo facts for kids

Alfonso Rodríguez Vallejo (born August 19, 1943 – died December 3, 2021) was a talented Spanish person who did many things! He was a playwright (someone who writes plays), a poet, a painter, and even a neurologist (a doctor who studies the brain).

He wrote a lot, publishing 34 plays and 25 poetry books. Alfonso Vallejo won several important awards for his work. These include the Lope de Vega prize in 1976 for his play "El desgüace" and the Internacional Tirso de Molina prize in 1978 for "A Tumba Abierta." The Spanish Royal Academy also gave him the Fastenrath Award in 1981 for "El cero transparente."

His plays were performed in many places, including Europe, the United States, and South America. His writings have also been translated into many languages, like French, German, and Italian.

Who Was Alfonso Vallejo?

Alfonso Vallejo was a professor of medical Pathology and worked in a big hospital in Madrid. He became a medical doctor in 1966 after studying at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He also trained in many other countries, like Britain, Germany, and France.

His Early Life and Studies

Alfonso Vallejo was born in Santander, Spain, in 1943. From 1950 to 1961, he studied at the Liceo Francés in Madrid. He learned both French and Spanish.

A special moment happened when his teacher read a poem by Baudelaire. Alfonso realized that writing could fill what was missing in life. From then on, he wanted to write and create through words. He also wanted to understand what makes people tick.

He spent time in the UK in 1958, 1962, and 1963. He also lived in France, Germany, and Italy, learning their languages. He even worked in hospitals in several European countries.

Between 1961 and 1966, he earned his medical degree. In 1970, he became a specialist in neurology. He later completed his doctoral studies in medicine in 1977.

A Doctor and a Writer

From 1971 to 1973, Alfonso Vallejo was an assistant professor of neurology. In 1973, he became the head of Clinical Neurology at a major hospital in Madrid.

He also taught neurology at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid from 1975 to 1985. In 1985, he became a Professor of Medical Pathology. He held these important positions at the hospital.

While working as a doctor, Alfonso Vallejo also started his artistic journey. He began writing poems and plays in 1957. His very first play, "Cycle," was written in 1961. He even directed it himself in 1963 with French actors in Madrid.

He was also the director of the University Theatre at the Faculty of Medicine from 1962 to 1964. He wrote many plays during this time, like "La sal de la tierra" and "Morituri." He also wrote two long novels and some short ones.

Alfonso Vallejo was amazing because he was great at writing plays, poetry, and painting all at the same time!

His Creative Works

Alfonso Vallejo created a lot of art in his life. He wrote many plays and books of poetry.

Plays He Wrote

He wrote about 50 plays. Some of his well-known plays include:

• "Fly-By" (1973)
• "El desgüace" (1974)
• "Ácido sulfúrico" (1975)
• "A tumba abierta" (1976)
• "El cero transparente" (1977)

Many of his plays have been performed in cities like New York, Miami, and throughout Europe.

His Poetry

Alfonso Vallejo published 25 books of poetry. His poetry often explored deep ideas about life and feelings. Some of his poetry collections include:

• "The place of the cold land" (1969)
• "Molecules" (1976)
• "Lunar Fire" (1988)
• "Blue Sun" (1997)
• "Eternity at every instant" (2000)

His Paintings

Besides writing, Alfonso Vallejo was also a painter. He had several art shows where he displayed his paintings. These shows took place in different cities in Spain:

• Madrid (1983, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2008)
• Zaragoza (1991)
• Aranjuez (2004, 2005)
• Alcorcón (2007)
• Cuenca (2008, 2009)

Awards and Recognition

Alfonso Vallejo received many important awards for his plays:

• 1975: Runner-up prize of the Lope de Vega for "Ácido Sulfúrico"
• 1976: Lope de Vega Prize for "El desguace"
• 1978: Internacional Tirso de Molina Prize for "A Tumba Abierta"
• 1981: Fastenrath de la Real Academia Prize for "El Cero Transparente"

See also

In Spanish: Alfonso Vallejo (dramaturgo) para niños