JOSEP CARNER: BIOGRAPHY, STYLE AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

Josep Carner i Puig-Oriol (1884-1970) was a writer, poet, journalist, translator and playwright of Spanish origin. A good part of his work was written in Catalan, hence he was known as “the prince of Catalan poets”.

Carner was part of the avant-garde movement of the first years of the 20th century, known as Noucentisme or Noucentismo. His work was characterized by the absence of drama and tragedy, and above all by the use of colloquial words and some old words typical of the Catalan dialect.

Josep Carner. Source: Carneriana, via Wikimedia Commons

Josep Carner also served as a diplomat, also expressed his affinity and support for the Second Spanish Republic. Like many of the intellectuals of his time, he was forced into exile, however, his literary work continued to develop attached to the Catalan language.

Biography

Birth and family

Josep Carner was born on February 9, 1884 in Barcelona, ​​into a middle-class family, and with extensive cultural knowledge. His parents were Sebastián Carner, who served as editor and editor of a magazine, and Marianna Puig-Oriol. The writer was an only child.

Early literary vocation

From an early age Josep Carner was attracted to literature and letters, his talent and ability caused astonishment. At the age of twelve, he became a contributor to the magazine L´Aureneta. Later, at the age of fifteen, he was the winner of the literary prize at the Floral Games in his hometown.

Academic training of Josep Carner

University of Barcelona, ​​Josep Carner's house of studies. Source: Xavier Caballé at ca.wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons

Carner began studying law and philosophy at the University of Barcelona in 1897. During that time he met the Catalan movement, focused on highlighting the values ​​of Catalonia, he also worked in various print media, including La Atlántida; graduated in 1902.

First poetry books and other literary works

Shortly after graduating from college, Carner published his first verses: Book of Poets and Crowns. In addition, he served as director of magazines in various periods, including Catalunya and Empori. Some time later, in 1911, it became part of the Institute of Catalan Studies.

At that time Carner also began his work as a journalist in the newspaper La Veu de Catalunya, which lasted for more than fifteen years. In 1915 he married Carmen Ossa, of Chilean origin. The marriage produced two children named Anna María and Josep.

Diplomatic career and dedication to Catalan

Carner spent a long time modernizing the language used in Catalan prose and lyric. In addition, it invested effort to ensure that Catalan literature reached the maturity, value and professionalism it deserved, and was recognized.

In 1920 the poet had an interest in a diplomatic career, so he went to Madrid to apply for positions at the consulate. The following year, he obtained the Spanish vice consulate in Italy, specifically in Genoa, and left with his family. The writer was a diplomat in several countries, including Holland and France.

Exile and death

The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 affected the life of Josep Carner, both for his literary profession and for his diplomatic work, because his support for the Second Republic remained firm. In 1939 he left Spain, and separated from his first wife, he married Émilie Noulet, a literary critic.

From 1939 to 1945 he lived in Mexico, there he served as a teacher at El Colegio de México. Later he moved to Belgium, where he lived until his last days. Josep Carner passed away on June 4, 1970, at the age of eighty-six¸ his remains rest in Spain, in the Montjuïc cemetery.

Style

Josep Carner's literary style was framed within modernism. His work was characterized by the use of a cultured and well-developed language, focused on preserving and at the same time renewing the Catalan dialect. In addition, his verses were classic, far from romanticism.

Carner's literary work is rather ironic and sarcastic. It is common to observe rhetoric in his lyrics, as well as the development of sonnets. Regarding the theme, her poems dealt with the reality of everyday life, through elegance, kindness and reflection.

Plays

Poetry

- Cop de vent (1966).

Some articles and stories

- Les planetes del verdum (1918).

- Les bonhomies (1925).

- Three estels and one ròssec (1927).

References

1. Josep Carner. (2019). Spain. Wikipedia. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.
2. Tamaro, E. (2019). Josep Carner. (N / a): Biographies and Lives. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com.
3. Josep Carner. (2012). Cuba: Ecu Red. Recovered from: ecured.cu.
4. Moreno, V., Ramírez, M. and others. (2019). Josep Carner. (N / a): Search Biographies. Recovered from: Buscabiografias.com.
5. Carner i Puig-Oriol, Josep. (2019). (N / a): Writers. Recovered from: Escribires.org.