Eugeni Xammar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eugeni Xammar
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| Eugeni Xammar i Puigventós | |
Eugeni Xammar in 1934
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| Born | January 17, 1888 |
| Died | December 5, 1973 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | Catalan |
| Other names | Eugeni Xammar Douglas Flint (abans de 1909) Harry Doggerel, El Día Gráfico Peer Grynt, El Be Negre |
| Education | self-taught |
| Occupation | journalist |
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| Awards | Premi Crítica Serra d'Or de prosa no-ficció (1975) |
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Eugeni Xammar i Puigventós (born in Barcelona, January 17, 1888 – died in L'Ametlla del Vallès, December 5, 1973) was a famous journalist and diplomat. He was also a polyglot, meaning he spoke many languages. Eugeni could speak seven languages and write in five!
He spent most of his life outside of Catalonia, working as a correspondent in Europe. This was during a very difficult time, around the First and Second World Wars. He reported from cities like Buenos Aires, Paris, Madrid, London, Berlin, Washington DC, and Geneva. He also traveled to Italy, Russia, and Austria.
Eugeni Xammar mainly wrote for Catalan newspapers and magazines. These included La Publicitat, La Veu de Catalunya, and Mirador. He also wrote for South American publications and the Spanish newspaper Ahora. Because he was so good with languages, he worked as a translator for big international groups. These included the UN (United Nations), WHO (World Health Organization), World Bank, and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization).
His longest job was in Berlin, from 1922 to 1936. This was during the Weimar Republic in Germany. In 1923, Xammar published what was said to be the first interview with Adolf Hitler. In this interview, Hitler supposedly talked about his plans. Years later, some people questioned if this interview was real. While in Berlin, Xammar became good friends with another correspondent, Josep Pla. Xammar reported on how World War I affected Germany. He also wrote about the rise of Nazism and Hitler coming to power.
Eugeni Xammar was always loyal to the Republic and the Catalan government, called the Generalitat de Catalunya. He even represented them in Paris after the war. Because of his actions, the Franco government tried to punish him. His name and work were almost forgotten for a whole generation. But after he passed away, his memoirs were published in the 1970s.
Xammar believed strongly in democracy, the Republic, and Catalan identity. He once said, "when it comes to Catalonia, I have never taken precautions." He didn't like people who shared his views but didn't speak out against the Franco government.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Eugeni Xammar was born in Barcelona. But in 1900, when he was 12, he moved. He went with his mother and brother to a large old house called Can Xammar de Dalt. This house was in L'Ametlla del Vallès. The property was in bad shape because of a plant disease that hurt the grapevines.
His mother tried to save the farm by renting rooms to people from Barcelona. This made L'Ametlla a popular summer spot. But it wasn't enough money. When Eugeni was a teenager, his mother asked him to become a farmer. But Eugeni was restless and didn't want to farm. He said he didn't want to live in Ametlla his whole life.
When he was 14, he moved back to Barcelona to work in a cotton business. Four years later, his mother had to sell the farm. A new owner bought it and renamed it Can Millet. The new owner also hired an architect to change the house. Eugeni was surprised by the changes. He wrote that the architect made the "magnificent, gigantic farmhouse" look like an "inedible Easter Egg."
In 1909, when he was 21, Eugeni used some money from his aunt to travel to Paris. He wanted to improve his French and find work. It's thought he also wanted to avoid military service. He wrote about the "Tragic Week" events in Barcelona around that time.
After Paris, he briefly returned to Catalonia. Then he went to Argentina, but he didn't like it there. He left after three months and went back to Paris. He lived a free-spirited life there for two years, from 1910 to 1912.
A Life as a Journalist
Eugeni Xammar began his career as a newspaper correspondent. This job took him to many different countries. He didn't return to Barcelona until 1917, when his mother became very ill. He stayed in Barcelona until 1918.
From 1918 to 1936, he lived in Paris, Madrid, Geneva, and Berlin. His work as a journalist allowed him to see and report on major world events. He was known for his sharp observations and his ability to speak many languages.
Xammar was a self-taught person. He loved learning and reading classic books. He also enjoyed sports like soccer and billiards. He even wrote poetry and helped judge poetry contests. He believed that education was very important for Catalonia. He wrote articles asking for better schools and criticizing the old university system.
Family Life
In late 1922, while in Berlin, Xammar married Amanda Fürstenwerth Goetsche. She was a well-educated German woman. They were together until she passed away in 1969 after an operation.
Later, Xammar married Francine Mesne. She worked for UNESCO in Paris. They got married on May 2, 1970. A few friends attended their wedding. The musician Josep Maria Ruera i Pinart even played the Catalan Anthem, Els Segadors, outside the church.
They lived in Paris, but Xammar's health soon got worse. He had a painful illness and then broke his leg. He was 83 years old. After his operation, his wife Francine sent him to his home in Ametlla. She stayed in Paris and visited him sometimes.
Later Years in Ametlla
Even though Eugeni Xammar had left L'Ametlla del Vallès as a young man, he always wanted to return. He thought he would settle there after traveling the world. His friend Josep Pla wrote to him about this in the 1920s.
His dream came true in 1932 when he bought a small house and land in Ametlla. This was at the start of the Republic in Spain. He was very happy to own property again and be a resident in the town. From then on, he visited Catalonia more often and reconnected with old friends.
When the Spanish Civil War began, Xammar was in Berlin. In 1940, a judge in Barcelona ordered that his property be taken away. He was also banned from Spain for being "a red and a Catalanist." This meant he had to live in exile until 1950. He lost his beloved house in Catalonia.
Years later, a new owner of the old Can Xammar de Dalt house helped him get his property back. After 1960, Xammar mostly lived in Ametlla. He refused to write as a sign of loyalty to Catalonia, which was under strict rule. Many of his friends, like Jaume Miravitlles, visited him. They respected his independent ideas and professional skills.
In his last years, Xammar struggled with pain and limited movement due to his illness. He also faced money problems. A local gentleman helped him by giving him a lifelong pension for his house. This allowed him to live comfortably in his final days.
Eugeni Xammar passed away in Ametlla del Vallès on December 5, 1973. He is buried there.
Images for kids
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Eugeni Xammar's signature
See also
In Spanish: Eugenio Xammar para niños
