Isabel Cheix facts for kids

Isabel Cheix Martinez (born January 18, 1839 – died August 6, 1899) was a Spanish writer and poet. She was born in Málaga, a city in the Andalucia region of Spain. Isabel wrote many historical, religious, and romantic novels. She also wrote poetry and several plays for the stage. She used the pen name (a fake name for writing) Martín Ávila for some of her works. Isabel won many literary awards during her life.

Isabel's Early Life and Family

Isabel Cheix was one of eight children. Her parents were Don Santiago Cheix and Doña María Amparo Martínez. Her father was a well-educated and wealthy mining engineer. He often moved between the cities of Almería, Málaga, and Seville for his work.

Isabel went to school in Almería. But she moved to Seville when she was very young. She spent most of her life there. At just nine years old, she wrote her first poem. It was called Al Lucero de la Mañana (which means To the Morning Star). She also wrote three short plays around 1896. These were named Violeta, Magdalena, and La Tia Lechuza. However, they were not performed during her lifetime.

When Isabel was 19, her mother passed away. She then took on the big job of caring for her seven younger brothers and sisters. She had to stop her writing for a while. Instead, she focused on her family and home duties. She spent her life balancing housework with what she called her "childhood hobby" (writing).

Five years later, her father also died. To earn money, Isabel started painting landscapes. She had learned this skill when she was younger. She was able to sell her paintings. This helped her maintain a good life for her family.

Isabel's Writing Career

Isabel became well-known among the smart people in Seville. She was allowed to write for several newspapers and magazines. These included La Semana Católica, Revista Compostelana, La Moda Elegante, Asta Regia (from Jaén), El Folletín (from Málaga), and Sevilla Mariana. She once wrote, "I only understand happiness in the practice of virtue."

Isabel began publishing her poems in local newspapers in Málaga. She also entered many different writing competitions. She tried all kinds of writing styles. She loved writing lyric poetry the most. But she also wrote poems about patriotism (love for one's country). These often spoke against war and showed a strong wish for peace. She also wrote a lot about religious topics. She was the only writer of her time to try writing biographies of saints, which are called hagiographies.

Winning Literary Awards

Isabel's first work in a competition was El Caballero de Napoles. She sent it to the Academia Bibliográfica Mariana in Lleida in 1868. It won first prize! This success encouraged her a lot. She went on to win nine more prizes and awards in that competition.

Isabel also competed in the Academia Sevillana de Buenas Letras. She won five times there. She also won literary awards in Murcia, Málaga, Vitoria, and Manila. These awards were for her various poems, articles, and novels.

In 1882, Isabel entered a competition held by the Escuela Normal de Buenas Letras in Seville. Her topic was "Should women be educated?". Her article won a gold and pearl medal. In the same year, she won another gold medal. This was in a writing competition in Manila. Her article was about Saint Theresa. Isabel later turned this article into a book. It was about the life of St. Theresa and was called La Reformadora del Carmelo.

Isabel Cheix Martinez passed away in Seville, Spain, when she was 60 years old.

Selected Writings

Here are some of Isabel Cheix Martinez's published works:

Books

• La Cruz del Valle – poems (1894)
• Al Lucero de la Mañana
• Narraciones Infantiles (Children's Stories) with Alvaro Lopez Nuñez
• La Reformadora de Carmelo, The story of St. Theresa de Jesus (1893)
• Romancero de Don Pedro I de Castilla (1898)
• Jornadas de Belén (1867)
• Estrella del Mar, Historia de la Virgen Maria, instrucciones familiares dedicada a las niñas (Star of the Sea, Story of the Virgin Mary, family instructions dedicated to girls) (1872)
• El lirio de los valles: La Virgen de Valvanera (The Lily of the Valleys: The Virgin of Valvanera) (1902)
• La Madre Vicenta María Lopez y Vicuña (founder of the Institute of Mary Immaculate for Domestic Service) (1898)
• La Romería del Rocío (The Rocío Pilgrimage)
• El Plato de China (The China Plate)

Poems

• La Cruz del Valle (1894)
• Al Lucero de la Mañana
• Los Dolores de la Santisima Virgen (The Sorrows of the Most Holy Virgin)
• La Muerte de Cervantes (The Death of Cervantes)

Short Plays

• Magdalena: A drama in one act divided into three scenes (1896)
• Violeta: Comedy in one act in verse (1906)
• La Tia Lechuza (Aunt Owl)

See also

In Spanish: Isabel Cheix para niños