Jorge de Lima facts for kids
Jorge Mateus de Lima (born April 23, 1893 – died November 15, 1953) was a talented Brazilian man who did many things! He was a doctor, a poet, a writer, a painter, and even a politician. At first, his poems followed a classic style called Alexandrine, but later he became a modernist, which was a new and exciting way of writing.
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Life Story of Jorge de Lima
Jorge de Lima was born in a place called União dos Palmares. His father was a successful merchant. When Jorge was nine, he moved with his mom and brothers and sisters to Maceió.
Early Life and Studies
In 1909, when he was just sixteen, Jorge moved to Salvador to start studying medicine. He finished his medical studies in Rio de Janeiro in 1914. But even though he became a doctor, he really wanted to be known as a poet. In that same year, he published his very first book of poems, called Alexandrians XIV.
Return to Maceió and Political Life
Jorge went back to Maceió in 1915. There, he worked as a doctor, kept writing, and also got involved in politics. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alagoas and served from 1918 to 1922. This meant he helped make laws for his state.
Moving to Rio de Janeiro
The Revolution of 1930 inspired him to move to Rio de Janeiro. He opened a doctor's office near a famous area called Cinelândia. Over time, this office became more than just a place for patients. It also turned into an art studio and a popular meeting spot for smart people like writers and thinkers. He met famous writers there, such as Murilo Mendes, Graciliano Ramos, and José Lins do Rego. During this time, he published ten books, including five collections of his poems.
Later Life and Important Works
In 1935, Jorge de Lima became a Roman Catholic. Many of his poems after this time showed his strong religious beliefs.
By 1939, he decided to spend more time on painting and other visual arts. He even showed his artwork in some exhibitions. In 1952, he published what many consider his most important book, a long poem called Invention of Orpheus. Just a few months before he passed away in 1953, he recorded some of his poems for the Archives of the Spoken Word at the Library of Congress. He died in Rio de Janeiro when he was 60 years old.
Books by Jorge de Lima
Jorge de Lima wrote many books, including poetry and novels.
Poetry Collections
- Poesia Completa (Complete Poetry), published in 1997.
- Invenção de Orfeu (Invention of Orpheus), published in 1952, which included drawings by Fayga Ostrower.
Novels
- O Anjo (The Angel), published in 1941.
- Calunga, first published in 1935.
- A Mulher Obscura (The Obscure Woman), first published in 1939.
Poems Translated into English
Some of Jorge de Lima's poems have been translated so English speakers can read them:
- Poems, translated by Melissa S. Hull in 1952.
- Several poems like "The Death of the Madwoman" and "The Great Mystical Circus" were translated by Ricardo da Silveira Lobo Sternberg and Duane Ackerson and appeared in a magazine called Stinktree in 1972.
- The Great Mystical Circus, a collection of translated poems, was published in 1978.
See also
In Spanish: Jorge de Lima para niños
