Manuel Mantero facts for kids

Manuel Mantero is a Spanish professor and writer. He was born in Seville, Spain, on July 29, 1930. In 1969, Mantero moved to the United States. There, he continued his important work as a professor.

Biography

Manuel Mantero studied law at the University of Seville. He also earned a special law degree from the University of Salamanca. His main project for this degree was about philosophy and law. It focused on the work of an Italian poet named Giacomo Leopardi. This was in 1957.

He worked as a professor at the University of Seville. He also helped with the School of Hispanic American Studies. This school was part of Spain’s Higher Council of Scientific Research. Mantero was also a member of the school's journal, called Estudios Americanos (American Studies).

In 1960, he moved to Madrid, Spain. He spent some time in Rome, Italy, doing research. The Italian Government supported his work there. During the 1960s, he was very busy with cultural and professional activities. He worked as a literary critic. He wrote for newspapers and special publications. He also appeared on television and radio shows. Mantero gave many talks across Spain. During this time, he was a professor at the University of Madrid. He was also a member of the Cervantes Institute in Madrid. And he joined the National Institute of Legal Studies. Both of these groups were connected to the Higher Council of Scientific Research.

Move to the United States

In 1969, Mantero moved to the United States. He became a full professor at Western Michigan University. While there, he started and edited a magazine called Sagittarius. Many famous writers contributed to this magazine. These included Jorge Luis Borges, Jorge Guillén, Vicente Aleixandre, Agustín Yáñez, and Emilio Carballido.

In 1973, he moved to the University of Georgia. He held a special position there as a Distinguished Literature Professor. He worked there until August 2000, when he retired. Today, he is an emeritus distinguished research professor at the University of Georgia. This means he is a retired professor who still holds a special title.

Even though Mantero lived outside of Spain, he always went back to his home country. He also kept taking part in its cultural traditions. Two of his recent books were first released in Spain. One was called Había una ventana de colores (memorias) (There Was a Window of Colors (memoirs)). The other was Equipaje (poesía) (Luggage (poetry)). Spain's Minister of Culture, Carmen Calvo, introduced his memoirs. Professor Jorge Urrutia and writer Antonio Burgos also helped. Professor Rogelio Blanco and Professor Juan Carlos Marset introduced his book of poems in Madrid.

Honors and awards

Manuel Mantero has received many honors and awards. He won Spain’s National Award for Literature in 1960. He also won the Fastenrath Award in 1967. This award is given by the Spanish Royal Academy of Language. Other awards include the Albert Christ-Janer Award (1981) and The March Foundation Literary Prize (1964). He also won the Andalusian Critics’ Award twice, in 1995 and 2005.

In 1985, he became a member of Seville’s Royal Academy of Letters. He received the Golden Seals of Luis de Góngora in 2003. This award came from Córdoba’s Royal Academy. In 2005, he received Seville’s Gold Medal. The City Council of Seville named a street after him in 2006.

Mantero has also advised the Royal Swedish Academy for the Nobel Prize for literature. He is an honorary member of several international academic groups. These groups are in France, Italy, and Hispanic countries. Mantero is also a member of Sigma Delta Pi’s Order of Don Quixote. This is a top Hispanic society in America. He has represented Spain at many international literary events. These include the Miami Book Fair International and the Euro-San Francisco Poetry Festival.

Many special studies and talks have focused on Mantero’s poetry. Books in English have also introduced his work to readers in Britain and America. These include A Study of the Works of Manuel Mantero by Douglas Barnette. Another is Manuel Mantero. New Songs for the Ruins of Spain by Betty Jean Craige. His writings have been translated into many languages. These include English, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Romanian, Ukrainian, and Polish.

Vicente Aleixandre, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1977, praised Mantero's work. He said that Mantero “has produced a work that adds value to the whole of the current Spanish lyric.” Aleixandre also said Mantero's work “makes an indelible mark in the poetry of his time.”

You can find more information at: manuelmantero.org

See also

In Spanish: Manuel Mantero para niños