Maria Teresa Horta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Teresa Horta
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| Born | Maria Teresa Mascarenhas Horta 20 May 1937 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Died | 4 February 2025 (aged 87) Lisbon, Portugal |
| Alma mater | University of Lisbon |
| Spouse | Luís de Barros (d. 2019) |
Maria Teresa de Mascarenhas Horta Barros (born May 20, 1937 – died February 4, 2025) was an important Portuguese writer. She was known as a poet, a journalist, and an activist who fought for women's rights. She is famous for being one of the "Three Marias." These three writers created a book called Novas Cartas Portuguesas (New Portuguese Letters). This book caused a big stir and led to their arrest in 1972. This happened during a time when Portugal was under a strict government called the Estado Novo dictatorship. Their book and trial brought a lot of attention from women's rights groups around the world.
Contents
Early Life and Writing Career
Maria Teresa Horta studied at the Universidade de Lisboa (University of Lisbon). After her studies, she worked as a journalist. She wrote for many newspapers and magazines. Some of these included Diário de Lisboa, A Capital, and Diário de Notícias. She was also the main editor for Mulheres magazine.
She was part of the Portuguese Feminist Movement. This group worked to improve women's rights in Portugal. She also joined a writing group called Poesia 61.
The "Three Marias" and Their Famous Book
Maria Teresa Horta, along with Maria Isabel Barreno and Maria Velho da Costa, became known as the "Three Marias." In 1971, they wrote Novas Cartas Portuguesas. This book talked about women's lives and freedom in a way that was new and bold for its time.
Because of the book's themes, the three authors faced legal trouble. They were arrested and put on trial in 1972. This event drew a lot of attention from people in Portugal and from women's rights groups internationally. Their trial became a symbol of the fight for freedom of speech. It also highlighted the struggle for women's rights during the dictatorship.
Awards and Recognition
Maria Teresa Horta received many honors for her work. In 2020, the Portuguese Ministry of Culture gave her the Medal of Cultural Merit. This award recognized her important contributions to Portuguese culture.
In 2021, she won the Casino da Póvoa Literary Prize. This was for her book Estranhezas. In the same year, she was honored at a special literary festival. This festival remembered the victims of the 2017 fires. On April 21, 2022, she was given a high honor called the Grand Officer of the Order of Liberty. In December 2024, the BBC included her on their 100 Women list. This list celebrates inspiring and influential women from around the world.
Personal Life
Maria Teresa Horta was the daughter of Jorge Augusto da Silva Horta. Her father was a university professor and a leader in the medical field. Her mother was D. Carlota Maria Mascarenhas.
She was married to Luís Barros. He passed away in 2019. They had a son named Luís Jorge Horta Barros. He was born on April 4, 1965. Maria Teresa Horta passed away in Lisbon on February 4, 2025, at 87 years old.
Works
Maria Teresa Horta wrote many books, mostly poetry. Here are some of her published works:
- Espelho Inicial (1960) (poetry)
- Tatuagem (1961)
- Cidadelas Submersas (1961)
- Verão Coincidente (1962)
- Amor Habitado (1963)
- Candelabro (1964)
- Jardim de Inverno (1966)
- Cronista Não é Recado (1967)
- Minha Senhora de Mim (1967) (poetry)
- Ambas as Mãos sobre o Corpo (1970)
- Novas Cartas Portuguesas (1971)
- Ana (1974)
- Poesia Completa I e II(1983)
- Os Anjos (1983)
- O Transfer (1984)
- Ema (1984)
- Minha Mãe, Meu Amor (1984)
- Rosa Sangrenta (1987)
- Antologia Política (1994)
- A Paixão Segundo Constança H. (1994)
- O Destino (1997)
- A Mãe na Literatura Portuguesa (1999)
- As Luzes de Leonor (2011)
- As Palavras do Corpo – Antologia de Poesia Erótica (2012)
- A Dama e o Unicórnio (2013)
- Anunciações (2016)
See also
In Spanish: Maria Teresa Horta para niños
