Voltaire
Author of the day

Voltaire

Voltaire was a prolific French writer, historian, and philosopher, a central figure of the Enlightenment. Known for his sharp intellect, sense of humor, and advocacy for freedom of speech, he vehemently criticized religious intolerance and the tyranny of the aristocracy and clergy of his time. His vast work spans poetry, essays, plays, correspondence, and philosophical texts, exerting a profound influence on Western thought.

Poem of the day

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night, 
Old age should burn and rave at close of day; 
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, 
Because their words had forked no lightning they 
Do not go gentle into that good night. 

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright 
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, 
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, 
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, 
Do not go gentle into that good night. 

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight 
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, 
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

And you, my father, there on that sad height, 
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. 
Do not go gentle into that good night. 
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Read full poem

Born on this day

7
Hilaire Belloc

Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc was a prolific Anglo-French writer, historian, poet, and political activist. Known for his witty and often controversial writings, Belloc produced an enormous body of work across various genres, including essays, novels, historical studies, and humorous verse. He was a devout Catholic and a staunch critic of secularism and socialism, advocating for a distributist economic model. His poems, particularly those with a satirical or nonsensical bent, remain popular.

[Month of) July
Giosuè Carducci

Giosuè Carducci was an Italian poet and literary critic, a Nobel laureate in Literature, known for his lyrical poetry and his influence on the revival of Italian poetry. His work celebrated Italian history and culture, with a style that combined classicism and modernity.

António de Cértima

António de Cértima was a Portuguese poet, a name linked to the surrealist movement in Portugal. Although his work is less extensive than that of other contemporaries, his participation in the surrealist group and his contribution to the renewal of Portuguese poetry mark his relevance. His poetry explores the imaginary, the dreamlike, and creative freedom, aligning with the surrealist principles of breaking with conventional logic and exploring the unconscious.

Gabriel Audisio

Gabriel Audisio was a French poet and writer, known for his lyrical work and his strong connection to the Provence region. His poetry evokes landscapes, memories, and Mediterranean culture, with a rich and sensitive language. Audisio also dedicated himself to prose, exploring themes related to his homeland and the human condition.

Andrea Cote

Andrea Cote is a contemporary Colombian poet and translator, recognized for her work that sensitively addresses feminine, social, and existential themes. Her poetry is marked by lyrical language and a keen eye for the nuances of human experience.

Bernardo Atxaga

Bernardo Atxaga is a prominent Basque writer, known primarily for his poetic and narrative work in Euskera (Basque). His writing is characterized by a deep connection to Basque culture and identity, often exploring themes of memory, belonging, and the complexity of human relationships in the context of the Basque Country. With a lyrical and evocative prose, Atxaga has managed to transcend linguistic and cultural borders, becoming one of the most important contemporary authors of Euskera literature. His work invites reflection on the human condition through stories that intertwine the real and the fantastic, the historical and the intimate.

Died on this day

7
Gertrude Stein

Gertrude Stein was an American modernist writer, known for her experimental prose and her influence on the development of 20th-century literature. Her work challenged narrative and stylistic conventions, exploring language in new ways. She was also an important figure in the Parisian artistic and intellectual scene, collecting artworks and promoting young artists and writers.

António Gomes de Oliveira

António Gomes de Oliveira was a poet whose works explored the human and existential dimension with accessible and profound language. His poetry often addresses the passage of time, interpersonal relationships, and the search for meaning in life. With a style that combines simplicity with reflection, Oliveira left a poetic record that invites contemplation and identification with universal human concerns.

Fernando Luso Soares

Fernando Luso Soares was a distinguished Portuguese poet, whose work is known for its expressive force and profound humanism. His poetry addresses themes such as the human condition, social injustice, the ephemerality of life, and the search for freedom and dignity. With a direct and impactful language, Luso Soares managed to captivate a wide readership, becoming a relevant voice in contemporary Portuguese poetry.

Maria Almira Medina

Maria Almira Medina is a contemporary Portuguese poet, whose work is characterized by introspective lyricism and a profound reflection on themes such as memory, time, nature, and the female condition. Her poetry stands out for its evocative language and the sensitivity with which she explores the complexities of human existence.

Orlando Cardoso

Orlando Cardoso is a poet whose work is characterized by a deep connection to the land, its people, and its traditions. Through a language that often evokes the rural and the popular, but without sacrificing its lyrical and expressive force, Cardoso builds poems that celebrate identity, memory, and values rooted in the landscape. His poetry, marked by a tone that is sometimes epic and sometimes intimate, reflects a concern for the preservation of culture and the human condition, exploring themes such as work, family, faith, and the passage of time. His work is a valuable testimony to the soul of a people and their bond with the territory.