Bertolt Brecht
Author of the day

Bertolt Brecht

Bertolt Brecht was a highly influential German playwright, poet, and theatre director. He is renowned for his pioneering work in epic theatre, which aimed to provoke critical thought rather than emotional immersion. His writings often carried strong political and social messages, critiquing capitalism, war, and injustice. Brecht's innovative techniques, such as the alienation effect (Verfremdungseffekt), revolutionized modern theatre.

Poem of the day

Grass

Carl Sandburg
Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Shovel them under and let me work
-I am the grass; I cover all.

And pile them high at Gettysburg
And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.
Shovel them under and let me work.
Two years, ten years, and the passengers ask the conductor:

What place is this?
Where are we now?

I am the grass.
Let me work.
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Born on this day

11
Luís Amaro

Luís Amaro is a contemporary Portuguese poet, recognized for his work that oscillates between confessional lyricism and reflection on the human condition. His poetry explores themes such as love, memory, the passage of time, and the search for meaning in a constantly changing world. Amaro stands out for the musicality of his verses and his ability to evoke deep emotions.

Jose Luis Appleyard

Jose Luis Appleyard was a poet and translator known for his lyrical and reflective work. His poetry often explores the human condition, the passage of time, and the search for meaning, with careful language and an introspective tone. He also stood out for his work as a translator, bringing foreign literature closer to Portuguese-speaking audiences.

Cândido da Velha

Cândido da Velha was a Portuguese poet known for his forays into religiously and morally inspired poetry. His work reflects a period of literary transition, where echoes of classicism were still felt, but with a sensibility that foreshadowed new thematic approaches. His compositions, often didactic in nature, sought to deepen reflections on the human condition and spiritual values, fitting into a context of literary and religious renewal in Portugal.

Christopher Morley

Christopher Darlington Morley (5 May 1890 – 28 March 1957) was an American journalist, novelist, poet and critic. He is perhaps best known for creating the game of Clue (Cluedo).

Paul Eldridge

Paul Eldridge, born Joseph-Émile Mathon, was a French writer and poet. His work, marked by a Symbolist and mystical style, explores themes such as love, death, and transcendence. He was one of the founders of the literary magazine 'Le Mercure de France'.

Søren Kierkegaard

Søren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic, and religious thinker. He is often considered the first existentialist philosopher. Kierkegaard criticized Hegelianism and the Danish state church, emphasizing subjectivity, individual freedom, and the importance of faith.

Life can only be understood backwards…But it must
Miklós Radnóti

Miklós Radnóti was a Hungarian poet of Jewish origin, whose work, profoundly marked by the atrocities of the Holocaust, became a poignant testament to the human condition in times of barbarism. His poetry, often written in extreme circumstances, is characterized by lyrical strength, the struggle for dignity, and the incessant search for beauty amidst horror. Radnóti left a legacy of verses that echo the resilience of the human spirit, the importance of memory, and the universality of suffering and hope. His work is a landmark in 20th-century literature, serving as a grim and powerful reminder of the consequences of intolerance and war.

José Joaquim Bordalo

José Joaquim Bordalo, known by the pseudonym "Camillo", was a singular figure in the literary and journalistic landscape of 19th-century Portugal. His literary output, although less voluminous than that of other contemporaries, reveals a critical spirit and a talent for social observation, with forays into poetry and prose, reflecting the contradictions of the society of his time.

Jaime Salazar Sampaio

Jaime Salazar Sampaio was a Portuguese jurist and poet, known for his literary work that explored universal themes with a careful and reflective language. His poetry, although sometimes less prominent in the literary landscape, reveals a refined sensibility and a profound look at the human condition. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to both the practice of law and poetic expression, demonstrating a multifaceted facet. His contribution to literature, although discreet in volume, is valued for its quality and the introspection it offers its readers.

Died on this day

11
Mário Quintana

Mário Quintana was a Brazilian poet, journalist, and translator, known for his lyrical, accessible, and tender poetry. His work, often marked by apparent simplicity and a melancholic and ironic gaze at everyday life, addresses themes such as time, memory, childhood, and the small joys and sorrows of life. His poetry invites reflection on the human condition with a gentle and accessible tone.

Waly Salomão

Waly Salomão was a Brazilian poet, composer, lyricist, and filmmaker. His work is marked by linguistic experimentation, the fusion of elements of Brazilian popular culture with the avant-garde, and a strong critical and irreverent vein. He moved between poetry, music, cinema, and other arts, leaving a multifaceted legacy.

Ascenso Ferreira

Ascenso Ferreira was a Brazilian poet, recognized as one of the greatest exponents of poetry from the Northeast. His work is marked by profound lyricism, linguistic exploration, and a strong connection to the land and culture of the Northeast, portraying the drought, the landscape, and the sertanejo people with rare sensitivity and expressiveness. His poetry stands out for its musicality, rich imagery, and a worldview that oscillates between the regional and the universal, addressing themes such as the fleetingness of time, memory, and the human condition. Ascenso Ferreira left a unique poetic legacy, influencing later generations of writers with his unmistakable style and his deep connection to Brazil's cultural roots.

Leopoldo Neto

Leopoldo Neto is a recognized poet for his audacious exploration of language and his unique perspective on reality. His work, often experimental, challenges literary conventions, delving into themes such as identity, memory, and the human condition in contemporary society. With a style marked by originality and the ability to create impactful poetic images, Leopoldo Neto establishes himself as an innovative figure in current poetry, inviting reflection and new ways of reading the world.

Bret Harte

Francis Bret Harte was an American writer and poet known for his stories about the Old West, especially the California Gold Rush. His tales often depicted the lives of miners, gamblers, and other eccentric characters in rustic and wild settings, blending humor, sentimentality, and sharp social observation.

Giuseppe Baretti

Giuseppe Baretti (April 24, 1719 - December 5, 1789) was an Italian writer, literary critic, and lexicographer. He is known for his active participation in the cultural debate of his time and for his work "Dizionario delle lingue italiana e inglese".

Ai Qing

Ai Qing was a prominent Chinese poet, known for his lyrical and socially conscious poetry. His works address themes such as the lives of ordinary people, the struggle against oppression, and the beauty of nature, reflecting a deep love for his homeland and a humanist spirit. His writing, marked by a direct and emotional style, had a significant influence on modern Chinese poetry, making him a central figure in 20th-century Chinese literature.

Frei Luís de Sousa

Frei Luís de Sousa was a 17th-century Portuguese poet, playwright, and friar, a prominent figure of the Baroque period. His work is marked by profound religiosity, reflection on the transience of life, and the use of ornate and conceptual language, characteristic of the Baroque style. He is known for his lyric poetry, but also for his theatrical production, notably the tragedy 'A Dama Pé-de-Cabra' (The Goat-Foot Lady). His poetic and dramatic legacy is fundamental to understanding the Baroque period in Portugal.

Severiano Falcão

Severiano Falcão is a poet who stands out for his lyrical and introspective writing, exploring the complexity of human emotions and the individual's relationship with the world. His work, although not widely publicized, reveals a singular talent for poetic expression, with a style that favors depth and sensitivity. His poetry invites reflection on themes such as identity, the passage of time, and the search for meaning, using a careful and imagistic language that resonates with the lyrical tradition, but with a personal and contemporary touch.

André Lafon

André Lafon is a French author, journalist, and editor, known for his work in the field of science fiction and fantasy. With a career dedicated to writing and promoting literature, Lafon has explored themes such as technology, contemporary society, and human relationships in his texts, often with a critical and imaginative perspective.