Josep Carner
Encyclopedia
Josep Carner i Puig-Oriol (ʒuˈzɛp kərˈne) (born Barcelona
9 February 1884 - died Brussels
4 June 1970), was a Catalan
poet
, journalist
, playwright and translator. He was also known as the Prince of Catalan Poets.
. He likewise worked on a number of literary journals, including Montserrat and L'Atlàntida, among others. Carner went on to direct Catalunya2 (from 1903 to 1905), Empori (from 1907 to 1908) and Catalunya (from 1913 to 1914). In 1911, he became a member of the Philological Section of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans
(the "Institute of Catalan Studies," akin to a "Royal Academy" for the Catalan language
). There he collaborated with another well-known Catalan linguist, Pompeu Fabra
, in standardizing and enriching Catalan.
At the beginning of the 20th century, he joined La Veu de Catalunya (The Voice of Catalonia), where he wrote until 1928. In 1915 he married a Chile
an, Carmen de Ossa, who died in Lebanon in 1935. They had two children together, Anna Maria and Josep.
Carner was quite innovative in his use of language, in both poetry and prose. He created a new style of political journalism
. Along with Prat de la Riba
, then president of the Commonwealth of Catalonia, he fought for the professionalization of the Catalan literature, which he considered to be in an "adolescent" stage. After Prat de la Riba's death in 1920, Carner took the civil service examination for the Consular Corps. In March 1921, he began a diplomatic career, and left Catalonia
to go to Genoa
. Carner settled there with his family as Vice-Consul of Spain. Thereafter he held positions in Genoa
, San José
, Le Havre
, Hendaye
, Beirut
, Brussels
and Paris
. During the Spanish Civil War
, Carner was one of the few diplomats who remained loyal to the Republic
and, therefore, could never return to Spain.
He married a Belgian teacher and literary critic Émilie Noulet; together they set out for a new life in Mexico
. Carner lived there from 1939 to 1945, teaching at the Colegio de México. He later moved to Belgium
.
A collection of thirty of Carner's poems translated into English by the Irish poet Pearse Hutchinson
was published in Oxford by Joan Gili
in 1962.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
9 February 1884 - died Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
4 June 1970), was a Catalan
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, playwright and translator. He was also known as the Prince of Catalan Poets.
Biography
In 1897, Carner entered the University of Barcelona, where he studied law and philosophy, and developed an interest in Catalan nationalismCatalan nationalism
Catalan nationalism or Catalanism , is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or full independence of Catalonia....
. He likewise worked on a number of literary journals, including Montserrat and L'Atlàntida, among others. Carner went on to direct Catalunya2 (from 1903 to 1905), Empori (from 1907 to 1908) and Catalunya (from 1913 to 1914). In 1911, he became a member of the Philological Section of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans
Institut d'Estudis Catalans
The Institut d'Estudis Catalans , also known by the acronym IEC, is an academic institution which seeks to undertake research and study into "all elements of Catalan culture"....
(the "Institute of Catalan Studies," akin to a "Royal Academy" for the Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
). There he collaborated with another well-known Catalan linguist, Pompeu Fabra
Pompeu Fabra
Pompeu Fabra i Poch was a Catalan grammarian, the main author of the normative reform of contemporary Catalan language....
, in standardizing and enriching Catalan.
At the beginning of the 20th century, he joined La Veu de Catalunya (The Voice of Catalonia), where he wrote until 1928. In 1915 he married a Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an, Carmen de Ossa, who died in Lebanon in 1935. They had two children together, Anna Maria and Josep.
Carner was quite innovative in his use of language, in both poetry and prose. He created a new style of political journalism
Political journalism
Political journalism is a broad branch of journalism that includes coverage of all aspects of politics and political science, although the term usually refers specifically to coverage of civil governments and political power....
. Along with Prat de la Riba
Enric Prat de la Riba
Enric Prat de la Riba i Sarrà was a Catalan politician. He became a member of the Centre Escolar Catalanista, where one of the earliest definitions of Catalan nationalism was formulated....
, then president of the Commonwealth of Catalonia, he fought for the professionalization of the Catalan literature, which he considered to be in an "adolescent" stage. After Prat de la Riba's death in 1920, Carner took the civil service examination for the Consular Corps. In March 1921, he began a diplomatic career, and left Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
to go to Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
. Carner settled there with his family as Vice-Consul of Spain. Thereafter he held positions in Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
, Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, Hendaye
Hendaye
Hendaye is the most south-westerly town and commune in France, lying in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and located in the traditional province Lapurdi of the French Basque Country...
, Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. During the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, Carner was one of the few diplomats who remained loyal to the Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
and, therefore, could never return to Spain.
He married a Belgian teacher and literary critic Émilie Noulet; together they set out for a new life in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Carner lived there from 1939 to 1945, teaching at the Colegio de México. He later moved to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
A collection of thirty of Carner's poems translated into English by the Irish poet Pearse Hutchinson
Pearse Hutchinson
Pearse Hutchinson is an Irish poet, broadcaster and translator.-Childhood and education:Pearse Hutchinson was born in Glasgow. His father, Harry Hutchinson, a Scottish printer whose own father had left Dublin to find work in Scotland, was Sinn Féin treasurer in Glasgow and was interned in Frongoch...
was published in Oxford by Joan Gili
Joan Gili
Joan Gili i Serra, also known as John Gili, was a Catalan antiquarian book-seller, publisher and translator.Joan Gili was born in Barcelona in 1907. His father, Lluis Gili, ran a religious publishing house which also published a cookery book, Sabores, written by his mother, which became a...
in 1962.
Poetry
- Llibre dels poetes (1904)
- Primer llibre de sonets (1905)
- Els fruits saborosos (1906)
- Segon llibre de sonets (1907)
- Verger de les galanies (1911)
- Auques i ventalls (1914)
- El cor quiet (1925)
- Nabí (1941)
- Poesia (1957) (compilation). In Poesia there is a section that could be considered a separate book, Absència, with recurrent themes of exile and homeland.
Articles, Stories, Word Games
- Les planetes del verdum (1918)
- Les bonhomies (1925)
- Tres estels i un ròssec (1927)
Biographies
- Josep Carner in LletrA, Catalan Literature Online (Open University of Catalonia)
- Josep Carner in LletrA, l'espai virtual de literatura catalana (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya)
- Association of Catalan Writers (in Catalan)
- Professor Joan Ducros' website (in Catalan)
- Auca de Josep Carner (in Catalan)
Works
- La creació d'Eva i altres contes at http://manybooks.net/ , for PDAPersonal digital assistantA personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet...
.