Antonio Gala


Antonio Gala Velasco was a Spanish poet, playwright, novelist, and writer.
WWW antoniogala.es

Life and career

Antonio Ángel Custodio Gala y Velasco was born on 2 October 1930 in Brazatortas, Ciudad Real, although he moved very soon to Córdoba and is widely considered an Andalusian.
A graduate in law, philosophy, politics, and economics, he wrote in a wide variety of genres, including journalism, short stories, essays and television scripts. He was awarded several prizes, not only within the field of poetry but also for his contributions to theatre and opera.
Gala's work is more appreciated by his readership than by the critics, who find it hard to classify due to its particular blend of lyricism and epic. Gala's literature is marked by historic issues, which are used more to lighten the present than to deepen in the past.
Among his most successful plays are Los verdes campos del Edén, Anillos para una dama, ¿Por qué corres, Ulises?, Petra Regalada, Samarkanda, Carmen, Carmen and La truhana.
Among his collections of poetry are Sonetos de La Zubia, Poemas de amor, Testamento Andaluz, Enemigo íntimo, and El Águila Bicéfala.
Gala started to write novels late in life, but he obtained an overwhelming success with El manuscrito carmesí, La regla de tres and La pasión turca, adapted for the cinema by Spanish director Vicente Aranda and Más allá del Jardín, adapted by Pedro Olea.
He was also the founder of the Antonio Gala Foundation in the city of Córdoba, Spain.
Gala died in Córdoba on 28 May 2023, at age 92.

Political views

During the Spanish transition to democracy Gala publicly defended leftist political viewpoints while not linked to a specific political party. In 1978 he called for a statute of autonomy for Andalusia.
In 1981 he was named president of the Spanish–Arab Friendship Association, and fulfilled this role for the first years of existence of this association.
Gala was the president of the civic platform that defended the "no" to Spain's permanence in NATO, in the 1986 referendum. In July 2014, during Israel's military operation in Gaza, Gala was accused of antisemitism because of an article published in the newspaper El Mundo with the following quote:
No matter what the Jews call their civil or military leaders, they end up creating problems for everyone: it is ancient history. Now it is Gaza's turn to suffer their abuses It's not strange that they have been so frequently expelled. What is surprising, is that they persist. Either they are not good, or someone is poisoning them. I am not a racist.

The Comunidad Judía de Madrid filed a lawsuit against him for discrimination, incitement to hatred and insult to the feelings of the members of a religious community and slander.

Work

Drama

Los verdes campos del Edén El caracol en el espejo El sol en el hormiguero Noviembre y un poco de hierba Spain's strip-tease Los buenos días perdidos ¡Suerte, campeón! Anillos para una dama Las cítaras colgadas de los árboles ¿Por qué corres, Ulises? Petra regalada La vieja señorita del paraíso El cementerio de los pájaros Trilogía de la libertad Samarkanda El hotelito Séneca o el beneficio de la duda Carmen, Carmen Cristóbal Colón La truhana Los bellos durmientes Café cantante Las manzanas del viernes
  • ''Inés desabrochada''

Narrative

El manuscrito carmesí La pasión turca Granada de los nazaríes Más allá del jardín La regla de tres El corazón tardío Las afueras de Dios Ahora hablaré de mí El imposible olvido Los invitados al jardín El dueño de la herida El pedestal de las estatuas
  • ''Los papeles de agua''

Poetry

Enemigo íntimo La deshora Meditación en Queronea 11 sonetos de la Zubia Testamento andaluz Poemas cordobeses Poemas de amor
  • ''El poema de Tobías desangelado''

Articles

Texto y pretexto Charlas con Troylo En propia mano Cuadernos de la Dama de Otoño Dedicado a Tobías La soledad sonora Proas y troneras A quien conmigo va Carta a los herederos Troneras
  • ''La casa sosegada''