Alejandro Tapia y Rivera
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (November 12, 1826 – July 19, 1882) was a Puerto Rican
poet
, dramaturg, essayist and writer
. Tapia is considered to be the father of Puerto Rican literature and as the person who has contributed the most to the cultural advancement of Puerto Rico's literature. In addition to his writing, he was also a fervent abolitionist and a women's rights
advocate.
, Puerto Rico
. There he received his primary education under the guidance of the renowned educator Rafael Cordero
while studying his primary years in a school in Luna Street (Calle Luna) in Old San Juan, who was an early inspiration in his life. There he met his life-long friend Jose Julian Acosta
.
Tapia worked for the State Department. A Spanish Army artillery officer challenged him to a duel
when Tapia refused to yield the sidewalk to him, a challenge which he accepted; as a result, Tapia suffered a non-lethal injury in the arm and subsequently exiled
to Spain
, where he remained with his father for a period of time.
(1850–1852) and joined the Society of the Recollection of Historical Documents Relating to Puerto Rico (Sociedad Recolectora de Documentos Históricos de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico). Tapia filed and organized important 16th and 17th century documents of Puerto Rico. He published his first important work called The Historical Library of Puerto Rico (Biblioteca Histórica de Puerto Rico) relating to those documents and his findings on them.
In 1852, the Spanish-appointed governor of Puerto Rico, Fernando de Norzagaray, pardoned Tapia and returned to Puerto Rico, establishing his residence in the city of Ponce
on the southern coast of the island. He was a member of the Progressive Action Political Party. Among his cultural positions was his membership in the Puerto Rican Intellectual Protective Society. He was also the director of the Youth Museum in Ponce
and the founder and first president of the Ateneo Puertorriqueño. He moved from Ponce to San Juan around 1874, after founding Puerto Rico's first Gabinete de Lectura
in 1870. The Gabinete de Lectura was the precursor of the Ponce Municipal Library
.
, the premier drama stage, in old San Juan is also named after him. In July 2008, Roberto Ramos Perea, general director of the Archivo Nacional de Teatro y Cine del Ateneo Puertorriqueño, amn archive dedicated to conserve documents and memorabilia from the theatre industry in Puerto Rico, announced that a documentary covering Tapia y Rivera's life is planned. The filmation is part of a series of events honoring his life, titled Jornadas en Honor y Memoria de Alejandro Tapia y Rivera.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, dramaturg, essayist and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. Tapia is considered to be the father of Puerto Rican literature and as the person who has contributed the most to the cultural advancement of Puerto Rico's literature. In addition to his writing, he was also a fervent abolitionist and a women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
advocate.
Early years
Tapia was born in San JuanSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. There he received his primary education under the guidance of the renowned educator Rafael Cordero
Rafael Cordero (educator)
Rafael Cordero , known as "The Father of Public Education in Puerto Rico", was a self-educated Puerto Rican who provided free schooling to children regardless of their race or social standing.-Early years:...
while studying his primary years in a school in Luna Street (Calle Luna) in Old San Juan, who was an early inspiration in his life. There he met his life-long friend Jose Julian Acosta
José Julián Acosta
José Julián Acosta Calbo , born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a distinguished journalist and a fervent advocate of the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico.-Early years:...
.
Tapia worked for the State Department. A Spanish Army artillery officer challenged him to a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
when Tapia refused to yield the sidewalk to him, a challenge which he accepted; as a result, Tapia suffered a non-lethal injury in the arm and subsequently exiled
Exiled
Exiled is a 2006 Hong Kong action crime drama film produced and directed by Johnnie To, and starring Anthony Wong, Roy Cheung, Francis Ng, and Simon Yam. The action takes place in contemporary Macau.-Plot:...
to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he remained with his father for a period of time.
Literary career
While in Spain he completed his studies in literature in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
(1850–1852) and joined the Society of the Recollection of Historical Documents Relating to Puerto Rico (Sociedad Recolectora de Documentos Históricos de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico). Tapia filed and organized important 16th and 17th century documents of Puerto Rico. He published his first important work called The Historical Library of Puerto Rico (Biblioteca Histórica de Puerto Rico) relating to those documents and his findings on them.
In 1852, the Spanish-appointed governor of Puerto Rico, Fernando de Norzagaray, pardoned Tapia and returned to Puerto Rico, establishing his residence in the city of Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
on the southern coast of the island. He was a member of the Progressive Action Political Party. Among his cultural positions was his membership in the Puerto Rican Intellectual Protective Society. He was also the director of the Youth Museum in Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
and the founder and first president of the Ateneo Puertorriqueño. He moved from Ponce to San Juan around 1874, after founding Puerto Rico's first Gabinete de Lectura
Ponce Municipal Library
The Ponce Municipal Library, formally, Biblioteca Municipal e Infantil Mariana Suárez de Longo y Archivo Histórico de Ponce , and also known as Bibliteca Publica de Ponce , is the library system of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico...
in 1870. The Gabinete de Lectura was the precursor of the Ponce Municipal Library
Ponce Municipal Library
The Ponce Municipal Library, formally, Biblioteca Municipal e Infantil Mariana Suárez de Longo y Archivo Histórico de Ponce , and also known as Bibliteca Publica de Ponce , is the library system of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico...
.
Death
Alejandro Tapia y Rivera died in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 19, 1882, while giving a conference at the Ateneo Puertorriqueño.Written works
- El heliotropo (1848)
- The Palm of the Chief (1852)
- GuarionexGuarionexGuarionex was a Taíno cacique from the cacicazgo of Maguá in the island of Hispaniola. The later Spanish colonization of the island pushed thousands of indians to other neighboring islands such as Borikén to where he fled....
(librettoLibrettoA libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
, premiered in 1854) - José CampecheJosé CampecheJosé Campeche , born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the first known Puerto Rican visual artist and considered by many as one of the best rococo artists in the Americas.-Early years:...
: biography by Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (1854) - Roberto D'Evreux (1856)
- Bernardo de Palyssy o El heroísmo del trabajo (1857)
- La antigua sirena (1862)
- La cuarterona (1867)
- Camoens (Alejandro Tapia y Rivera) (1868)
- Póstumo el transmigrado (1872)
- Vasco Núñez de BalboaVasco Núñez de BalboaVasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador. He is best known for having crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513, becoming the first European to lead an expedition to have seen or reached the Pacific from the New World.He traveled to the New World in...
: biography by Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (1872) - Ramón Power: biography by Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (1873)
- La leyenda de los veinte años (1874)
- La Sataniada (1874)
- Roberto CofresíRoberto CofresíRoberto Cofresí , better known as "El Pirata Cofresí", was the most renowned pirate in Puerto Rico. He became interested in sailing at a young age. By the time he reached adulthood there were some political and economic difficulties in Puerto Rico, which at the time was a colony of Spain...
(1876) - Misceláneas de Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (1880)
- Póstumo el envirginado (1882)
- Mis memorias por Alejandro Tapia y Rivera
Awards
Among Tapia's many awards and honours were:- The Medal of the Royal Knight (Medalla de la Orden del Caballero Real) and
- The Royal and Distinguished Order of Carlos III from Spain.
Posthumous honors
His memory has been honoured in Puerto Rico. There are several schools and avenues named after Tapia. The Teatro TapiaTeatro Tapia
The Teatro Tapia, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is presumed to be the oldest free-standing drama stage building still in use in the United States. It is named after the poet and dramatist Alejandro Tapia y Rivera .-Location:...
, the premier drama stage, in old San Juan is also named after him. In July 2008, Roberto Ramos Perea, general director of the Archivo Nacional de Teatro y Cine del Ateneo Puertorriqueño, amn archive dedicated to conserve documents and memorabilia from the theatre industry in Puerto Rico, announced that a documentary covering Tapia y Rivera's life is planned. The filmation is part of a series of events honoring his life, titled Jornadas en Honor y Memoria de Alejandro Tapia y Rivera.
See also
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican literature