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Jose Manuel CaballeroSpanish writer, teacher and poet
Date of Birth: 11.11.1926
Country:  Spain |
Content:
- José Manuel Caballero Bonald: Master of Spanish Literature
- Literary Career
- Generation of '50
- Return to Spain and Political Activism
- Prison and Later Career
- Recognition and Honors
- Miguel de Cervantes Prize
José Manuel Caballero Bonald: Master of Spanish Literature
Early Life and EducationJosé Manuel Caballero Bonald was born on November 11, 1926, in Jerez, Spain, to Plácido Caballero and Julia Bonald. His family had roots in France, with his maternal grandfather being Louis Gabriel Ambroise de Bonald, a philosopher who settled in Andalucia in the mid-19th century.
During the Spanish Civil War, Caballero spent time in the Sierra de Cádiz and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where he discovered writers like Jack London and Emilio Salgari. Between 1944 and 1948, he studied navigation in Cádiz and began writing poetry.
Literary Career
After graduating, Caballero joined the Spanish Navy, where he spent two years sailing in the Canary Islands, Morocco, and Galicia. However, his naval career was cut short by a lung disease, forcing him to return to Jerez.
From 1949 to 1952, Caballero studied philosophy and literature in Seville. He continued his literary pursuits in Madrid, becoming an assistant and later deputy editor of the magazine "Papeles de Son Armadans."
Generation of '50
In the 1950s, Caballero associated with the Generation of '50, a group of writers opposed to Francisco Franco's dictatorship. He moved to Bogotá, Colombia, where he taught Spanish literature at the National University of Colombia and befriended Gabriel García Márquez.
Return to Spain and Political Activism
Caballero returned to Spain in 1963 and held various positions in the publishing industry. He was arrested and fined for political reasons the same year. Between 1965 and 1968, he lived in Cuba and joined a group in Baeza commemorating the banned poet Antonio Machado.
Prison and Later Career
After the publication of "Narrativa Cubana de la Revolución" in 1968, Caballero was arrested again for political reasons and spent a month in prison in Carabanchel. In 1971, he became a member of the Spanish Royal Academy.
Throughout the 1970s, Caballero taught at European universities and attended literary symposia. He held a professorship at the Centre for Hispanic Studies at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania from 1974 to 1978.
Recognition and Honors
In 1989, a school named after Caballero was opened in Jerez, and in 1992, a public library bearing his name was established. He was honored as a "Favorite Son of Andalusia" in 1997 and "Favorite Son of the Province of Cádiz" in 1999. In 2004, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Cádiz.
Miguel de Cervantes Prize
In 2012, Caballero Bonald was awarded the prestigious Miguel de Cervantes Prize for his mastery of language and contributions to Spanish literature. He passed away on May 9, 2021, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential writers of his generation.
