Javier del Granado

Javier del Granado (27 February 1913 – 15 May 1996), was a poet laureate and favorite son of Bolivia. Born in the city of Cochabamba, he spent most of his youth on his family's agrarian estate near the town of Colpa, Arani. This upbringing greatly influenced his works, which combine epic imagery and storytelling with rural and indigenous themes, primarily Quechuan (Incan).

A member of the Bolivian Academy of the (Spanish) Language and correspondent to the Royal Spanish Academy, del Granado achieved widespread recognition, receiving a multitude of national and international awards over a career that spanned more than half a century.

His passing was marked by three national days of mourning, and his funeral was a state event. Bolivia has dedicated two avenues and a plaza to his memory, and issued a commemorative postage stamp in May 2000.

Bibliography

Javier del Granado's main published works of poetry are:

* 1939 - "Pale Roses (Rosas Pálidas)"
* 1945 - "Songs of the Earth (Canciones de la Tierra)"
* 1959 - "Cochabamba"
* 1964 - "Evocation of the Valley (Evocación del Valle)"
* 1967 - "The Parable of the Eagle (La Parábola del Aguila)"
* 1970 - "Anthology of Poetry of the Natural Flower (Antología Poética de la Flor Natural)"
* 1972 - "Romance of our Valley (Romance del Valle Nuestro)"
* 1973 - "Of Twilight and Dawn (Del Crepúsculo y el Alba)"
* 1978 - "Flight of Azors (Vuelo de Azores)"
* 1989 - "Songs (Cantares)"

Sources

* Caceres Romero, Adolfo, "Diccionario de la Literatura Boliviana", Second Edition, La Paz, 1997
* Del Granado Anaya, Félix Alfonso, "Biografía del Poeta Javier del Granado", Cochabamba, 1990

External links

* [http://www.delgranado.org/ Javier del Granado Literary Foundation website]