Andrés Eloy Blanco
Encyclopedia
Andrés Eloy Blanco Meaño (Cumaná
, Sucre state
, Venezuela
, 6 August 1897 - Mexico City, Mexico, 21 May 1955) was an important Venezuela
n poet, politician, member of the Generación del 28, and one of the founders of Acción Democrática (AD).
Blanco spent his childhood in the state of Nueva Esparta (Margarita Island), until he moved to Caracas
in 1908 to attend the National School. He graduated from the Central University of Venezuela
with a law degree in 1918. In 1943, he married Lilina Iturbe, with whom had two sons, Luis Felipe and Andrés Eloy Blanco Iturbe.
His great literary talent was recognized from an early age. One of his first poems, "La espiga y el arado", was honored in the Floral Games
of Ciudad Bolívar
in 1916. In 1921 he published his first book, Tierras que me oyeron. In 1923, was brought to international attention when one of his poems, Canto a España, won a competition promoted by the Real Academia Española
, in the city of Santander
(Spain).
In 1928, he participated as one of the students who raised against the dictatorship of Juan Vicente Gómez
(the Generación del 28) and was subsequently sentenced to seven years imprisonment, first in from (1928–1933) in La Rotunda, and later in the Castillo Libertador of Puerto Cabello
(1933–1934). While in prison, he continued to produce original works, that soon were fixed by his sisters. Sickness causes him to be confined to Valera
(1935). During his imprisonment, he made contact with the farmers and illiterate workers, which inspired some of his works such as Barco de Piedra, Malvina Recobrada (1937), Abigail (1937) and Baedecker 2000.
In these books, he used a treatment of reality which he called colombismo, which derived from a discoverer attitude of the poet, in contact with the Latin American reality. After the death of Juan Vicente Gómez
,he initiates his political career in the Partido Democrático Nacional (National Democratic Party) (PDN), and is elected president of the Municipal Council of the Federal District. He was also a member of Acción Democrática (AD), and participated in the foundation of the humoristic weekly magazine El Morrocoy Azul (1941). Deputy by the Federal District (1945) and president of the Constituent National Assembly (1946–1947), he evolves as Foreign Relations Minister in the Government of Rómulo Gallegos
and represents Venezuela
in the Assembly of the United Nations
(Paris, 1948). After Gallegos was overthrown,he went into exile, to Cuba
and Mexico, where he died in an automobile accident at the age of 57.
In 1973, the Venezuelan Congress issued a ten-volume edition of his complete works, five of which gathered his journalistic work, containing short chronicles and texts. His speeches were also contained in this edition. Andrés Eloy Blanco was a great orator, perhaps the best of the Venezuelan the 20th century. His remains lay at the National Pantheon
, since 2 July 1981.
Several Venezuelan municipalities are named in his honor.
Cumaná
Cumaná is the capital of Venezuela's Sucre State. It is located 402 km east of Caracas. It was the first settlement founded by Europeans in the mainland America, in 1501 by Franciscan friars, but due to successful attacks by the indigenous people, it had to be refounded several times...
, Sucre state
Sucre (state)
Sucre State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Cumaná. Sucre State covers a total surface area of 11,800 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 916,600.-Municipalities and municipal seats:...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, 6 August 1897 - Mexico City, Mexico, 21 May 1955) was an important Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n poet, politician, member of the Generación del 28, and one of the founders of Acción Democrática (AD).
Blanco spent his childhood in the state of Nueva Esparta (Margarita Island), until he moved to Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
in 1908 to attend the National School. He graduated from the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
with a law degree in 1918. In 1943, he married Lilina Iturbe, with whom had two sons, Luis Felipe and Andrés Eloy Blanco Iturbe.
His great literary talent was recognized from an early age. One of his first poems, "La espiga y el arado", was honored in the Floral Games
Floral Games
Floral Games were any of a series historically related poetry contests with floral prizes. In Occitan, their original language, and Catalan they are known as Jocs florals . In French they became the Jeux floraux...
of Ciudad Bolívar
Ciudad Bolívar
Ciudad Bolívar is the capital of Venezuela's southeastern Bolivar State. It was founded with the name Angostura in 1764, renamed in 1846, and, as of 2010, had an estimated population of 350,691....
in 1916. In 1921 he published his first book, Tierras que me oyeron. In 1923, was brought to international attention when one of his poems, Canto a España, won a competition promoted by the Real Academia Española
Real Academia Española
The Royal Spanish Academy is the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, Spain, but is affiliated with national language academies in twenty-one other hispanophone nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies...
, in the city of Santander
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
(Spain).
In 1928, he participated as one of the students who raised against the dictatorship of Juan Vicente Gómez
Juan Vicente Gómez
Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón was a military general and de facto ruler of Venezuela from 1908 until his death in 1935. He was president on three occasions during this time, and ruled as an unelected military strongman for the rest of the era.-Early years:Gómez was a barely literate cattle herder and...
(the Generación del 28) and was subsequently sentenced to seven years imprisonment, first in from (1928–1933) in La Rotunda, and later in the Castillo Libertador of Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello is a city on the north coast of Venezuela. It is located in Carabobo State about 75 km west of Caracas. As of 2001, the city has a population of around 154,000 people. The city is the home to the largest port in the country and is thus a vital cog in the country's vast oil...
(1933–1934). While in prison, he continued to produce original works, that soon were fixed by his sisters. Sickness causes him to be confined to Valera
Valera
Valera is a city in Trujillo State in Venezuela, situated between the rivers Momboy and Motatán. The mayor is Temístocles Cabezas, who has had that post since 2009. The city is home to Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Colombian and Spanish communities...
(1935). During his imprisonment, he made contact with the farmers and illiterate workers, which inspired some of his works such as Barco de Piedra, Malvina Recobrada (1937), Abigail (1937) and Baedecker 2000.
In these books, he used a treatment of reality which he called colombismo, which derived from a discoverer attitude of the poet, in contact with the Latin American reality. After the death of Juan Vicente Gómez
Juan Vicente Gómez
Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón was a military general and de facto ruler of Venezuela from 1908 until his death in 1935. He was president on three occasions during this time, and ruled as an unelected military strongman for the rest of the era.-Early years:Gómez was a barely literate cattle herder and...
,he initiates his political career in the Partido Democrático Nacional (National Democratic Party) (PDN), and is elected president of the Municipal Council of the Federal District. He was also a member of Acción Democrática (AD), and participated in the foundation of the humoristic weekly magazine El Morrocoy Azul (1941). Deputy by the Federal District (1945) and president of the Constituent National Assembly (1946–1947), he evolves as Foreign Relations Minister in the Government of Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo Gallegos Freire was a Venezuelan novelist and politician. For a period of some nine months during 1948, he was the first cleanly elected president in his country's history....
and represents Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in the Assembly of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(Paris, 1948). After Gallegos was overthrown,he went into exile, to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Mexico, where he died in an automobile accident at the age of 57.
In 1973, the Venezuelan Congress issued a ten-volume edition of his complete works, five of which gathered his journalistic work, containing short chronicles and texts. His speeches were also contained in this edition. Andrés Eloy Blanco was a great orator, perhaps the best of the Venezuelan the 20th century. His remains lay at the National Pantheon
Panteón Nacional
The Panthéon is a building in the northern edge of the old town of Caracas, Venezuela. It was originally built as a church, but is now used as a famous burial place...
, since 2 July 1981.
Several Venezuelan municipalities are named in his honor.