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José María Pemán | |
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| Born | José María Pemán y Pemartín (1897-05-08)8 May 1897 Cádiz, Spain |
| Died | 19 July 1981(1981-07-19) (aged 84) Cádiz, Spain |
| Seati of theReal Academia Española | |
| In office 20 December 1939[a] – 19 July 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Emilio Cotarelo [es] |
| Succeeded by | José García Nieto |
| Director of theReal Academia Española | |
| In office 1 January 1938 – July 1940 | |
| Preceded by | Ramón Menéndez Pidal |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Rodríguez Marín |
| In office 7 December 1944 – December 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Miguel Asín Palacios |
| Succeeded by | Ramón Menéndez Pidal |
José María Pemán y Pemartín (8 May 1897 – 19 July 1981) was a Spanish journalist, poet, playwright, novelist, essayist andmonarchist intellectual.
José María Pemán y Pemartín was born on 8 May 1897 inCádiz. Originally a student of law, he entered the literary world with a series of poetic works inspired by his nativeAndalusia (De la vida sencilla,A la rueda, rueda,El barrio de Santa Cruz, andLas flores del bien). In the 1930s he became a journalist. He was elected to seati of theReal Academia Española on 7 December 1939, he took up his seat on 20 December 1939. He was the director of the royal academy from 1939 to 1940 and 1944 to 1947.[1]
Pemán often blurred literary genres, and developed a unique style that may be described as equidistant betweenclassicism andmodernism, not unfamiliar to readers ofABC andEl Alcázar.
As adramatist, he wrote historical-religiousverse (El divino impaciente andCuando las Cortes de Cádiz y Cisneros), plays based on Andalusian themes (Noche de levante en calma), andcomical costume dramas (Julieta y Romeo andEl viento sobre la tierra).
Pemán adapted many classical works (includingAntigone,Hamlet, andOedipus). He displayed his narrative skill in a series of novels and short stories (includingHistoria del fantasma y doña Juanita,Cuentos sin importancia, andLa novela de San Martín). He was also a notedessayist.
In 1955 he received the Mariano de Cavia prize for journalism. In 1957, he won theMarch de Literatura prize. He was the personal advisor to theCount of Barcelona from 1969 until the title's dissolution. In 1981, a few months before his death he was named Knight of theOrder of the Golden Fleece.
Pemán was one of the few prominent intellectuals to supportFrancisco Franco and theFalangist movement. This ensured his professional success during and after theCivil War, but damaged his international reputation.
Pemán wrote a set of unofficial, popular lyrics for theMarcha Real, which Franco had reinstated as Spain'snational anthem in 1939 in its original form as a purely instrumental piece, despite some popular misapprehensions concerning the official status ofEduardo Marquina's lyrics. Despite never being published in the BOE (Official State Bulletin), Pemán's lyrics continued in use during the Transition period by a few who remained nostalgic for the Franco era.
