Guillermo Díaz-Plaja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guillermo Diaz-Plaja
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Guillermo Díaz-Plaja
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| Born |
Guillermo Diaz-Plaja Contestí
24 May 1909 Manresa, Spain
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| Died | 27 July 1984 (aged 75) Barcelona, Spain
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| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Literary critic, historian, essayist, philologist, poet |
| Seat P of the Real Academia Española | |
| In office 5 November 1967 – 27 July 1984 |
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| Preceded by | José Martínez Ruiz |
| Succeeded by | Julio Caro Baroja |
Guillermo Diaz-Plaja Contestí (born May 24, 1909 – died July 27, 1984) was an important Spanish writer. He was known for being a literary critic, which means he wrote about and analyzed books. He was also a historian, essayist (someone who writes short pieces on different topics), and a poet. He spent his life studying and teaching literature, and he wrote many books.
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Guillermo Díaz-Plaja's Life Story
Guillermo Díaz-Plaja was born in Manresa, Spain, on May 25, 1909. His father was an army officer. A few weeks after he was born, his family moved to Barcelona. He went to school in Barcelona and later in Girona.
He started studying Philosophy and Letters at the University of Barcelona. He was a very good student and graduated with top honors in 1930. The next year, he went to Madrid to continue his studies and get a doctorate degree. There, he learned from famous teachers like Ramón Menéndez Pidal.
Early Career and Awards
In 1932, Guillermo Díaz-Plaja began his teaching career in Barcelona. When he was just 26 years old, he won the National Prize for Literature. This was for his book called Introducción al estudio del Romanticismo español, which was about the Romantic period in Spanish literature. Later, in 1961, he won another award, the City of Barcelona essay prize.
He became a professor at the Jaime Balmes Institute in 1935. He also taught at the University School of Business Studies in Barcelona until he retired in 1979.
Important Roles and Achievements
Guillermo Díaz-Plaja held many important positions throughout his life. He directed the Barcelona Theater Institute for over 30 years, from 1939 to 1970. He also led the Spanish National Book Institute for a few years.
He was a member of many important groups, including the CSIC and the Royal Spanish Academy. Being part of the Royal Spanish Academy is a very high honor for writers and scholars in Spain. He also led the Association of Literary Critics and the Association of Spanish Writers and Artists.
He received special honorary degrees, called Doctor Honoris Causa, from several universities around the world. These included universities in Peru, Argentina, and France. He wrote more than 200 books, including poetry, essays, and educational books.
His Work and Studies
Guillermo Díaz-Plaja spent a lot of time researching different periods in literature history. He studied important movements like Modernism, Romanticism, and Baroque. He also wrote about famous Spanish poets like Federico García Lorca and Juan Ramón Jiménez.
One of his most important works was Historia general de las literaturas hispánicas. This huge work brought together studies from many experts on different Spanish literatures. He also wrote many textbooks, which helped teach many generations of students in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries.
Besides his literary studies, he also wrote in other areas:
- Autobiographical works: These were books about his own life and experiences, like Memoria de una generación destruida.
- Journalism: He wrote about current cultural topics.
- Travel literature: He believed that traveling was a great way to learn about the world. He wrote essays about countries on all five continents.
- Poetry: He also wrote many poems.
He also paid special attention to his work in the Catalan language, including early studies on cinema and avant-garde art.
Major Works by Guillermo Díaz-Plaja
Guillermo Díaz-Plaja wrote many books across different types of literature. Here are some examples of his important works:
History of Literature
- Historia General de las Literaturas Hispánicas, a large collection about Spanish literatures.
- Hispanoamérica en su Literatura, about literature in Latin America.
Editing Books
- He edited the Obras (Works) of famous Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer.
Poetry Collections
- Primer cuaderno de sonetos (First Notebook of Sonnets)
- Las elegías de Granada (The Elegies of Granada)
- Vacación de estío (Summer Vacation)
- Poesía junta (Collected Poetry)
- Atlas lírico (Lyrical Atlas)
Essays
- Introducción al estudio del romanticismo español (Introduction to the Study of Spanish Romanticism)
- El espíritu del Barroco (The Spirit of the Baroque)
- Federico García Lorca, a study on the famous poet.
- Modernismo frente a noventa y ocho (Modernism vs. the Generation of '98)
- Memoria de una generación destruida (1930-1936), an autobiographical essay.
- África por la cintura (Africa Around the Waist), a travel essay.
Anthologies (Collections of Writings)
- Antología mayor de la literatura española (Major Anthology of Spanish Literature)
- Tesoro breve de las letras hispánicas (Brief Treasure of Hispanic Letters)
Autobiographical Writings
- Papers d´Identitat (Identity Papers)
- Retrato de un escritor (Portrait of a Writer)
Sources
- J. Gerardo Manrique de Lara, Guillermo Díaz-Plaja, Madrid: Ministerio de Cultura, 1982.
- Juan Bautista Bertrán, «Guillermo Díaz-Plaja, poeta», en Poesía en treinta años 1941-1971 (1972), pp. 9–51.
- José Cruset, Guillermo Díaz-Plaja, Madrid, Epesa, 1970.
- Dámaso Santos, Conversaciones con Guillermo Díaz-Plaja, Madrid, Ed. Magisterio Español, 1972.
See also
In Spanish: Guillermo Díaz-Plaja para niños
