JOSÉ BERGAMÍN: BIOGRAPHY AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

José Bergamín Gutiérrez (1895-1983) was a Spanish writer who stood out for his writings in poetry, essays and drama. He was characterized by being an astute lawyer and by his vast knowledge of literature. The aesthetic qualities of his work include him within the Generation of 27.

Bergamín's literary work was defined as being original, brilliant, and full of concepts. He rose to fame in 1923 with the publication of the book The Rocket and the Star, where he presented an argument loaded with proverbs, with which he tried to reach the reader more easily and be a closer writer.

José Bergamín. Source: sinaloaarchivohistorico, via Wikimedia Commons

The life of the writer went through the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the Spanish Civil War, and exile. In fact, it was outside his homeland that he belatedly began his poetic activity. A long time later he was able to return to his country and he devoted himself to writing on issues related to the situation of the nation.

Biography

Birth and family

José was born in the city of Madrid on December 30, 1895, he came from a large family, and of good economic status. He was the son of Francisco Bergamín García, politician and minister during the Bourbon Restoration process, and Rosario Gutiérrez. He was the youngest of thirteen siblings.

Bergamín formation

Coming from a wealthy family provided Bergamín with a good education. From an early age he was influenced by his father's political activity. From his mother he inherited faith and religiosity.

Once he finished his high school studies, he enrolled at the Central University of Madrid to study Law. It was at university when he began to take his first steps in the world of literature through the articles he published in the magazine Index.

The Generation of 27

Having served as a columnist in Index, directed by the poet Juan Ramón Jiménez, created a good friendship between the two, as well as the one he had with Miguel de Unamuno.

As for the writer's membership in the Generation of '27, some scholars bring him closer to Novecentismo. However, José Bergamín was one of its creators; participated in the editing and publication of the first texts. The author always preferred to be called “Generación de la República”.

Bergamín, the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera and the Civil War

José Bergamín rejected the government of Primo de Rivera, he was on the side of republican ideas. His position was expressed during a political speech in Salamanca. During that time he held administrative positions and continued his literary activity.

He was rector of insurance at the Ministry of Labor in 1931. Two years later he founded and was in the direction of the magazine Cruz y Raya, which was characterized by its authenticity and freedom of expression for many authors. In addition, in the dictatorship he found love; He married Rosario Arniches.

As for Bergamín's role in the Civil War of 1936, he was a radical and blunt citizen. In some of his writings, such as "The Blue Monkey", he used ironic language against some personalities, and encouraged to finish with some rivals.

Casas Salabert, Madrid, birthplace of José Bergamín. Source: Luis García

The writer held the post of cultural attaché for his country in Paris, and was also president of the Alliance of Anti-Fascist Intellectuals. In 1937 he was in charge of organizing the International Congress of Writers for the Defense of Culture. His literary activity at that time was recognized.

Exile and return to the homeland

José Bergamín left Spain when Franco assumed power. From 1939 to 1947 he lived in Mexico, where he created the Seneca publishing house. He also founded the magazine España Peregrina, which served as a bridge for authors, writers and poets forced into exile.

Later he went to live for less than a year in Venezuela, the country where his brother, the architect Rafael Bergamín, lived. Then he went to Uruguay, where he lived for nine years, from 1945 to 1954, and then finally he went to France, where he stayed until 1958.

All the time that the writer spent in exile was of intense literary activity. In 1958 he returned to his country for four years, and left again. In 1970 it was his definitive return. He supported the independence movement of the Basques, continued writing, and died on August 28, 1983 in Fuenterrabía.

Plays

Bergamín's work was broad and dense, in terms of content. Although he sought to be understood by the vast majority of his readers using a close and entertaining language, the depth of his verses, stanzas and paragraphs, according to the literary genre in which he is read, is undeniable. Below is a list of his works by categories:

Prose

- The rocket and the star (1923).

- Characters (1926).

- The head to birds (1934).

- The slightest idea of ​​Lope (1936).

- The soul in a thread (1940).

- Behind the cross: terrorism and religious persecution in Spain (1941).

- The muffled voice (1945).

- Hellish Frontiers of Poetry (1959).

- The decline of illiteracy; the importance of the devil (1961).

- Upon returning (1962).

- From a pilgrim Spain (1972).

- The burning nail (1974).

- The lost thought: pages of war and exile (1976).

- After all (1981).

- Aphorisms of the talking head (1983).

Poetry

- Rhymes and lagging sonnets (1962).

- Little elves and couplets (1963).

- The deserted clarity (1973).

- Of the autumn and the blackbirds (1975).

- Secluded shore (1976).

- Veiled sleeplessness (1978).

- Below the dream: Poetic Anthology (1979).

- Waiting for the hand of snow (1978-1981).

Some editions after his death

- Rolled song (1984).

- Last hour (1984).

- Almost complete poems (1984).

- Poetic Anthology (1997).

- Complete poems I (2008).

Theater

The writer also excelled in the elaboration of excellent theatrical texts. The following stand out among them:

- Three scenes at right angles (1924).

- The philologists (1925).

- Don Lindo de Almería (1926).

- Enemy who flees: Polifermo and spiritual Colloquium (1925-1926).

- The star of Valencia or The triumph of the Germanías (1937).

- You have as much as you expect and Heaven suffers strength or La muerte mocked (1944).

- The daughter of God (1945).

- The guerrilla girl (1945).

- Where can I go that doesn't shake? (1951.

- Melusina and the mirror (1952).

- The blood of Antígona (1956).

- The bed tomb of the dream or The bedroom (1956).

- Medea the charming (1954).

- The roofs of Madrid (1961).

- Laughter in the bones (1973).

References

1. José Bergamín. (2019). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org.
2. Tamaro, E. (2004-2019). José Bergamín. (N / a): Biographies and Lives. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com.
3. Catalinas, J. (2013). José Bergamín, a poetry of exile. Spain: The Country. Recovered from: elpais.com.
4. May, P. (2016). Profile of José Bergamín. Spain: Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library. Recovered from: cervantesvirtual.com.
5. José Bergamín. (2019). Spain: Lecturalia. Recovered from: lecturalia.com.