biography
pronunciation:
[olmoh]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1922– )
|
| biography:
| Playwright, novelist, short-story writer, and poet, born in Barco de Valdeorras, Orense, NW Spain. His first published work was the collection of poems Del aire (1954). His book of short stories Doce cuentos y uno más (1956) won the Premio Leopoldo Alas, and was followed by La peseta del hermano mayor (1958). He won considerable critical approval with his novels Ayer, 27 de octubre (1958), and El gran sapo (1964); however, it is his plays, protests against poverty and injustice, that have really made his name. The best known of these is La camisa (1961), which won the Premio Valle-Inclán. The success of this work was repeated with La pechuga de la sardina (1963). His later plays are less impressive. They include La condecoración (1965), El cuerpo (1966), and English spoken (1968). His work constitutes an important alternative to the shallow comedies of middle-class life characteristic of Madrid theatres during the Franco period. From 1968 his work was banned in Spanish theatres. During this time he produced a dramatic presentation of translations from Brecht's poems and songs, and his play El cuarto poder was performed at the 17th University Theatre Festival in Parma. In 1977 a play of his was produced in Barcelona, as a result of the relaxation of theatre censorship after the death of Franco. |
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