Alberto Arvelo Torrealba
Encyclopedia
Alberto Arvelo Torrealba (September 3, 1905 - March 28, 1971), was a Venezuela
n lawyer, educator and folklorical poet. Author of Florentino y El Diablo.
Torrealba was born in Barinas. But in his youth, he moved to Caracas where he studied high school, and attended the Central University of Venezuela
. He graduated as lawyer and obtained a degree in political sciences in 1935.
After graduating, Torrealba published his first literary work: Música de Cuatro (Music for Cuatro) in 1928, establishing himself as a poet in the tradition of Venezuelan Floklore. He became a teacher of Spanish and literature in several schools in Caracas between 1935 to 1936. Torrealba was also a technical inspector of secondary education of the Federal District (Caracas), and inspector of primary school in both the states of Barinas and Apure in 1936. During this year, he married Rosa Dolores Ramos Calles. and in 1937, was designated secretary of government of Portugesa state
.
In 1940, he became president of the Technical Council of Education, and published Glosas al cancionero, which includes the first version of his most famous and critical acclaimed poem Florentino y El Diablo. Between 1941 to 1944, he became the president (governor) of Barinas
. During his government, he cleaned the channels of the rivers Pagüey and Masparro and restored the commercial routes in the west plains. Torrealba was member of the Court of Appeals in 1948 and ambassador of Venezuela to Bolivia
(1951–1952) and Italy
(1952). He was also the minister of agriculture from 1952 to 1955.
After retiring from politics, he dedicated his life to his profession and literary vocation. In 1965 published a study of the poet Francisco Lazo Martí, and was awarded the National Prize for Literature for this work. In 1967 is compiled his poetic work at Obra poética. In 1968, was incorporated as Individual by the Venezuelan Academy of Language in 1966. In 1969, He worked as a translator of the Italian modernist poet Giuseppe Ungaretti
. Alberto Arvelo Torrealba died in Caracas in 1971.
A municipality
in Barinas was named after him.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n lawyer, educator and folklorical poet. Author of Florentino y El Diablo.
Torrealba was born in Barinas. But in his youth, he moved to Caracas where he studied high school, and attended the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
. He graduated as lawyer and obtained a degree in political sciences in 1935.
After graduating, Torrealba published his first literary work: Música de Cuatro (Music for Cuatro) in 1928, establishing himself as a poet in the tradition of Venezuelan Floklore. He became a teacher of Spanish and literature in several schools in Caracas between 1935 to 1936. Torrealba was also a technical inspector of secondary education of the Federal District (Caracas), and inspector of primary school in both the states of Barinas and Apure in 1936. During this year, he married Rosa Dolores Ramos Calles. and in 1937, was designated secretary of government of Portugesa state
Portuguesa (state)
Portuguesa State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela.The state capital is Guanare, founded in 1591.Portuguesa State covers a total surface area of 15,200 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 873,400.-Municipalities:...
.
In 1940, he became president of the Technical Council of Education, and published Glosas al cancionero, which includes the first version of his most famous and critical acclaimed poem Florentino y El Diablo. Between 1941 to 1944, he became the president (governor) of Barinas
Barinas (state)
Barinas State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. The state capital is Barinas. Current President Hugo Chávez was born in this state...
. During his government, he cleaned the channels of the rivers Pagüey and Masparro and restored the commercial routes in the west plains. Torrealba was member of the Court of Appeals in 1948 and ambassador of Venezuela to Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
(1951–1952) and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(1952). He was also the minister of agriculture from 1952 to 1955.
After retiring from politics, he dedicated his life to his profession and literary vocation. In 1965 published a study of the poet Francisco Lazo Martí, and was awarded the National Prize for Literature for this work. In 1967 is compiled his poetic work at Obra poética. In 1968, was incorporated as Individual by the Venezuelan Academy of Language in 1966. In 1969, He worked as a translator of the Italian modernist poet Giuseppe Ungaretti
Giuseppe Ungaretti
Giuseppe Ungaretti was an Italian modernist poet, journalist, essayist, critic and academic. A leading representative of the experimental trend known as Ermetismo , he was one of the most prominent contributors to 20th century Italian literature. Influenced by symbolism, he was briefly aligned...
. Alberto Arvelo Torrealba died in Caracas in 1971.
A municipality
Alberto Arvelo Torrealba Municipality
The Alberto Arvelo Torrealba Municipality is one of the 12 municipalities that makes up the Venezuelan state of Barinas and, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, the municipality has a population of 36,363. The town of Sabaneta is the shire...
in Barinas was named after him.