About Carlos Drummond de Andrade
Carlos Drummond de Andrade (October 31, 1902 - August 17, 1987) was a Brazilian poet, journalist and politician. At the age of 23, he edited La Revista with other writers, whose aim was to disseminate the expressions of Brazilian modernism, a movement that began during Modern Art Week held in São Paulo in 1922. In 1930 he published his first book, Alguma poesia. In 1934 he moved permanently to Rio de Janeiro, where he held the post of chief of staff of the new Minister of Education and Public Health. In the same year, his second work, Brejo das Almas, was published, and in 1940, Sentimento do Mundo.At the end of the Second World War and after the fall of the government of Getúlio Vargas, he was for a short time editor of the Tribuna popular newspaper. He returned to the Department of Education, where he worked in the Directorate of Historical and Artistic Heritage. At the same time, he carried out an intense journalistic activity as well as a very rich poetic work. He embodied, first in his country and then in the world, the great values of Brazilian modernism (non-dogmatic nationalism, empathy towards the people, non-academic creativity and total freedom of speech). At the time, his conscience did not shake when he gave up a very important national prize, with a considerable sum of money, because it was awarded by the military government then in his country.
Since his first books, Drummond's poetry has distinguished itself from others; it is a verbal gift of the highest quality; it is authentic, legitimate and great. He has always maintained close relations with the people, publishing his poems and prose in the press. This huge Brazilian author (he has published 28 books of poetry) is considered by critics as one of the greatest poets of Brazil.
He died on 17 August 1987 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, twelve days after the death of his only daughter, Maria Julieta Drummond de Andrade, as a result of cancer. He had treated and followed his daughter's illness, and his departure destroyed him, precipitating his own disappearance. His books were a great success and, although he was a serious candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature, he refused any nomination for that prize.
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