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{{Short description|Spanish poet (1905–1959)}}

'''Manuel Altolaguirre''' (29 June 1905, Málaga – 26 July 1959, Burgos) was a [[Spanish people|Spanish]] [[poet]], an editor, publisher, and printer of poetry, and a member of the [[Generation of '27]].

===Life and Work=Biography==

Born in the Andalusian city of [[Málaga]] in 1905, Altolaguirre’sAltolaguirre's collaborative playmatespoets included [[Emilio Prados]], [[Vicente Aleixandre]], and [[Federico García Lorca]]. After completing law studies in [[Granada]], Altolaguirre founded the magazine ''Ambos'' and returned to MalágaMálaga to start the printing shop Imprenta Sur (“Southern'Southern Press”Press'), where he drew together many of his friends, publishing most of their early verse.

In 1926 Altolaguirre published his first collection, ''Las islas invitadas y otros poemas'', twenty-four mostly descriptive, soul-searching poems about love, nature, solitude, and death. That same year, he co-founded with [[Emilio Prados]] the literary periodical ''LitoralLitorral'', whose 1927 triple issue commemorated the three hundredth anniversary of the death of [[Luis de Góngora]], a poet greatly admired by the [[Generation of '27]].

Born in the Andalusian city of Málaga in 1905, Altolaguirre’s playmates included [[Emilio Prados]], [[Vicente Aleixandre]], and [[Federico García Lorca]]. After completing law studies in Granada, Altolaguirre founded the magazine ''Ambos'' and returned to Malága to start the printing shop Imprenta Sur (“Southern Press”), where he drew together many of his friends, publishing most of their early verse.

In his second collection, ''Ejemplo'', the poet seemed to want to moldmould himself into the universe in search of harmony, revealing the influence of [[Juan Ramón Jiménez]]. In 1930 he began another literary magazine, ''Poesía'', which he also printed and bound, and to which he contributed poems of love and solitude.

In 1926 Altolaguirre published his first collection, ''Las islas invitadas y otros poemas'', twenty-four mostly descriptive, soul-searching poems about love, nature, solitude, and death. That same year, he co-founded with [[Emilio Prados]] the literary periodical ''Litoral'', whose 1927 triple issue commemorated the three hundredth anniversary of the death of [[Luis de Góngora]], a poet greatly admired by the [[Generation of '27]].

After a two-year stay to [[Paris]] with his portable printing press, Altolaguirre lived in [[Madrid]], where he produced ''Soledades juntas'', including love poems perhaps inspired by his fellow poet [[Concha Méndez]], whom he married in 1932.

In his second collection, ''Ejemplo'', the poet seemed to want to mold himself into the universe in search of harmony, revealing the influence of [[Juan Ramón Jiménez]]. In 1930 he began another literary magazine, ''Poesía'', which he also printed and bound, and to which he contributed poems of love and solitude.

With Méndez, Altolaguirre founded the publications ''Héroe'' (for which [[Juan Ramón Jiménez]] contributed lyrical character portraits of a Spanish heroes) and ''1616'' (in [[England]], to strengthen the literary relations between Spain and England through publication of poems in the original as well as in translation). In ''1616'' (the name commemorates the year of the deaths of [[Miguel de Cervantes]] and [[William Shakespeare]]), he published poems by [[Federico García Lorca]], [[Luis Cernuda]], [[Jorge Guillén]], [[Pablo Neruda]], and Moreno Villa, among others. He wrote a biography of [[Garcilaso de la Vega (poet)|Garcilaso de la Vega]], edited the ''Antología de la poeśia romántica española'', and translated [[Victor Hugo]] and other writers.

After two-year stay to Paris with his portable printing press, Altolaguirre lived in Madrid, where he produced ''Soledades juntas'', including love poems perhaps inspired by his fellow poet Concha Méndez, whom he married in 1932.

With Méndez, Altolaguirre founded the publications ''Héroe'' (for which [[Juan Ramón Jiménez]] contributed lyrical character portraits of a Spanish heroes) and ''1616'' (in England, to strengthen the literary relations between Spain and England through publication of poems in the original as well as in translation). In ''1616'' (the name commemorates the year of the deaths of [[Miguel de Cervantes]] and [[William Shakespeare]]), he published poems by [[Federico García Lorca]], [[Luis Cernuda]], [[Jorge Guillén]], [[Pablo Neruda]], and Moreno Villa, among others. He wrote a biography of [[Garcilaso de la Vega]], edited the ''Antología de la poeśia romántica española'', and translated [[Victor Hugo]] and other writers.

Published in 1936, his poetry collection, ''La lenta libertad'', included many poems from previous volumes, the newer poems dealing with evil and social injustice.

In 1936, when the [[Spanish Civil War]] broke out, Altolaguirre became a member of the [[Alianza de Intelectuales Antifascistas|Alliance of Anti-Fascist Intellectuals]] and became the director of “La"La Barraca",” a classic [[theater]] troupe that took Spanish theater to the countryside, after its leader [[Federico García Lorca]] was killed. Altolaguirre enlisted with the Republican forces and involved himself in printing projects. He printed [[Pablo Neruda]]’s ''España en el corazón'' (''Spain in the Heart'', 1938) on paper manufactured from old flags[[flag]]s and uniforms of the enemy, the wet paper then hung with clothespinsclothes-pins to dry.

In 1939, Altolaguirre suffered an emotional collapse. Later that year, he and his family traveled to Mexico City, stopping off in Cuba for five years. In Cuba he founded more magazines, ''Atentamente'' and La ''Verónica'', and completed ''Nube temporal'', poems of war and human suffering.

He completed ''Nuevos poems de las islas invitadas'' in 1946, poems revealing his increasing interest in mysticism, and in 1949, after leaving his wife for María Luisa Gómez Mena (whom he later married), he published ''Fin de un amor'', the poet seemingly torn between spiritual love inspired by Concha and the passion he felt for María Luisa.

For the last years of his life, he was involved with the Mexican film industry, writing scripts, producing, and directing. In 1959, Altolaguirre returned to Spain to present ''El Cantar de los cantares'' at the San Sebastian Film Festival. On 23 July, after the festival, he had a car accident on his way to Madrid and died three days later in Burgos.

===Selected List of Publications===

''Las islas invitadas y otros poemas'' (“The Invited Isle and Other Poems”) (Málaga: Imprenta Sur, 1926); also ''Las islas invitadas'' (Madrid: Viriato/Altolaguirre, 1936; revised edition, Madrid: Castalia, 1973)

''Ejemplo'' ("Example") (Malaga: Imprenta Sur, 1927)

''Soledades juntas'' (“Joint Solitudes”) (Madrid: Plutarco, 1931)

''La lenta libertad'' (“The Slow Freedom”) (Madrid: Héroe, 1936)

''Nube temporal'' (“Temporary Clouds”) (Havana: Veronica/Altolaguirre, 1939)

''Nuevas poemas de las islas invitadas'' ("New Poems of the Invited Islees") (Mexico city: Isla, 1946)

''Fin de una amor'' (“End of a Love”) (Mexico City, Isla, 1949)

''Poemas en América'' ("Poems in America") (Málaga: Dardo, 1955)

In 1939, Altolaguirre suffered an emotional collapse. Later that year, he and his family traveled to [[Mexico City]], stopping off in [[Cuba]] for five years. In Cuba he founded more magazines, ''Atentamente'' and La ''Verónica'', and completed ''Nube temporal'', poems of war and human suffering.

Altolaguirre also wrote a propaganda play ''El triunfo de las germanías'' (“The Triumph of the Brotherhood of the Guilds”) with José Bergamín (in 1937), and screenplays for six motion pictures from 1951-1959). He edited and was responsible for publishing ''Antología de la poesía romántica española'' (''Anthology of Spanish Romantic Poetry'') in 1933, ''Poemas escogidos de Federico Garćia Lorca'' in 1939, ''Presente de las lírica mexicana'' in 1946, and [[Gerardo Diego]]’s ''Poemas'' in 1948.

He completed ''Nuevos poemspoemas de las islas invitadas'' in 1946, poems revealing his increasing interest in mysticism, and in 1949, after leaving his wife for María Luisa Gómez -Mena y Vivanco (whom he later married), he published ''Fin de un amor'', the poet seemingly torn between spiritual love inspired by Concha and the passion he felt for María Luisa.

===Further reading===

For the last years of his life, he was involved with the Mexican film industry, writing scripts, producing, and directing. In 1959, Altolaguirre returned to Spain to present ''El Cantar de los cantares'' at the [[San SebastianSebastián]] Film Festival. On 23 July, after the festival, he had a car accident on his way to Madrid and died three days later in [[Burgos]].

John Crispin, ''Quest for Wholeness: the Personality and Works of Manuel Altolaguirre'' (Valencia: Albatros Hispanófila, 1983)

==Selected bibliography ==

C.B. Morris, “The Closed Door,” in ''A Generation of Spanish Poets: 1920-1936'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1969), pp. 143-171.

* 1''Las islas invitadas y otros poemas'' (“The Invited Isle and Other Poems”) (Málaga: Imprenta Sur, 1926); also ''Las islas invitadas'' (Madrid: Viriato/Altolaguirre, 1936; revised edition, Madrid: Castalia, 1973)

'''References'''

* ''Las islas invitadas'' (Madrid: Viriato/Altolaguirre, 1936; revised edition, Madrid: Castalia, 1973)

* ''Ejemplo'' ("Example") (Malaga: Imprenta Sur, 1927)

* ''Soledades juntas'' (“Joint"Joint Solitudes”Solitudes") (Madrid: Plutarco, 1931)

* ''La lenta libertad'' (“The"The Slow Freedom”Freedom") (Madrid: Héroe, 1936)

* ''Nube temporal'' (“Temporary"Temporary Clouds”Clouds") (Havana: Veronica/Altolaguirre, 1939)

* ''Nuevas poemas de las islas invitadas'' ("New Poems of the Invited IsleesIsles") (Mexico city: Isla, 1946)

* ''Fin de una amor'' (“End"End of a Love”Love Affair") (Mexico City, Isla, 1949)

* ''Poemas en América'' ("Poems in America") (Málaga: Dardo, 1955)

Altolaguirre also wrote a propaganda play ''El triunfo de las germanías'' (“The"The Triumph of the Brotherhood of the Guilds”Guilds") with [[José Bergamín]] (in 1937), and screenplays for six motion pictures from 1951-1959). He edited and was responsible for publishing ''Antología de la poesía romántica española'' (''"Anthology of Spanish Romantic Poetry''") in 1933, ''Poemas escogidos de Federico Garćia Lorca'' in 1939, ''Presente de las lírica mexicana'' in 1946, and [[Gerardo Diego]]’s's ''Poemas'' in 1948.

''Dictionary of Literary Biography'', Vol 108: Twentieth-Century Spanish Poets, First Series. (The Gale Group, 1991. pp. 42-51. Essay by Barbara Diehl.

===Further reading===

''Contemporary Authors Online''. (Gale, 2003).

*John Crispin, ''"Quest for Wholeness: the Personality and Works of Manuel Altolaguirre''" (Valencia: Albatros Hispanófila, 1983)

*C.B. Morris, “The"The Closed Door,”" in ''A Generation of Spanish Poets: 1920-1936'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1969), pp. 143-171 143–171.

'''==References'''==

[[Category:Spanish poets|Altolaguirre, Manuel]]

*''Dictionary of Literary Biography'', Vol 108: Twentieth-Century Spanish Poets, First Series. (The Gale Group, 1991. pp. 42-51 42–51. Essay by Barbara Diehl.

*''Contemporary Authors Online''. (Gale, 2003).

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[[Category:1905 births]]

[[gl:Manuel Altolaguirre]]

[[Category:1959 deaths]]

[[Category:20th-century Spanish poets]]

[[Category:20th-century Spanish dramatists and playwrights]]

[[Category:20th-century Spanish screenwriters]]

[[Category:20th-century Spanish male writers]]

[[Category:Writers from Málaga]]

[[Category:Generation of '27]]

[[Category:Exiles of the Spanish Civil War in Mexico]]

[[Category:Road incident deaths in Spain]]

[[Category:Spanish poets|Altolaguirre, Manueleditors]]