Ana Blandiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ana Blandiana
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Blandiana in 2016
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| Native name |
Otilia Valeria Coman
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| Born | 25 March 1942 Timișoara, Romania |
| Pen name | Ana Blandiana |
| Occupation | Poet, writer, memoirist, novelist, playwright, translator |
| Language | Romanian |
| Alma mater | Babeș-Bolyai University |
| Genres | Prose, poetry |
Ana Blandiana (born Otilia Valeria Coman on March 25, 1942) is a famous Romanian poet, writer, and important public figure. She chose her pen name, Blandiana, from her mother's home village. She is known for her beautiful poems and for speaking out for freedom and justice.
In October 2017, she received a special Lifetime Recognition Award from The Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry. In October 2024, her amazing writing was honored with the Princess of Asturias Award.
Contents
Ana Blandiana's Literary Journey
Ana Blandiana was born Otilia Valeria Coman on March 25, 1942. Her father, Gheorghe, was an Orthodox priest. He faced difficulties with the communist government at the time. He spent years in prison and died shortly after his release. This challenging time deeply influenced Ana. Her mother, Otilia, worked as an accountant. In 1960, Ana married the writer Romulus Rusan.
Early Writings and Recognition
Ana Blandiana started her writing career in 1959 in a magazine called Tribuna. This was the first time she used the name Ana Blandiana. For four years, she was not allowed to publish because of her father's past. But in 1963, she began publishing again in Contemporanul.
Her first book of poems, Persoana întâia plural ("First Person Plural"), came out in 1964. She quickly became well-known for her books Calcâiul vulnerabil ("Achilles' Heel", 1966) and A treia taină ("The Third Secret", 1969). In 1966, she took part in an International Poem Contest in Finland.
Life in Bucharest and International Presence
In 1967, Ana Blandiana moved to Bucharest. She worked as an editor for student magazines like Viața studențească and Amfiteatru. She also gave readings on television.
From 1975 to 1977, she worked as a librarian. Her poems were first translated into French in 1976. In 1978, she attended the First International Festival of Poetry in Paris.
Speaking Out Against the Government
In the late 1980s, Ana Blandiana started writing brave poems. These poems protested against the communist government in Romania.
In 1984, her poem 'Totul' ('Everything') was published. It described everyday life in Bucharest, showing the difference between what the government said and what life was really like. The poem was so critical that the magazine it appeared in was quickly removed. Its editors were even fired. However, the poem was translated and shared secretly in Romania and in other countries.
In 1987, she published "Orașe de silabe" ("City of Syllables"). This book was about the many countries and cities she had visited. The same year, her works were published in Russia. Even though the secret police saw her as a rebel, an anthology of her poems was published in 1989.
After the Revolution and Continued Work
After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Ana Blandiana became active in politics. She worked to remove the old communist ways from government. She also pushed for a more open society.
While focusing on political work, she still published new books. These included Arhitectura valurilor ("Waves' Architecture", 1990) and 100 de poeme ("100 Poems", 1991). She also wrote Sertarul cu aplauze ("The Drawer of Applause", 1992).
Ana Blandiana has written many other books of poetry and prose. Her works have been translated into 16 different languages. Some of her books include 50 de poeme ("50 Poems", 1970) and Ora de nisip ("The Hour of Sand", 1984). She also wrote children's books like Întâmplări din grădina mea (Occurrences in My Garden, 1980).
Ana Blandiana's Memberships and Leadership Roles
Ana Blandiana has been a part of many important groups:
- She is a member of the Writers' Union of Romania.
- She is also a member of the European Academy of Poetry.
- From 1990 to 2004, she was the President of the Romanian PEN Club. This group supports writers and freedom of expression.
- In 1994, she started the Civic Alliance Foundation. This group worked to help Romania recover after many years of communism.
See also
In Spanish: Ana Blandiana para niños
