Synopses & Reviews
In his lecture "Play and the Theory of Duende," he says, ". . .there are no maps nor disciplines to help us find the duende. We only know that he burns the blood like a poultice of broken glass, that he exhausts, that he rejects all the sweet geometry we have learned. . . ." The duende is portrayed by Lorca as a demonic earth spirit containing irrationality, earthiness, and a heightened awareness of death. In Search of Duende gathers Lorca's writings about the duende and about three art forms most susceptible to it: dance, music, and the bullfight. A full bilingual sampling of Lorca's poetry is also included, with special attention to poems arising from traditional Spanish verse forms. The result is an excellent introduction to Lorca's poetry and prose for American readers.
Review
"Lorca's works, which combine elements of Andalusian folklore with sophisticated and often surrealistic poetic techniques, cut across all social and educational barriers. . . .Spain's great poet and playwright is being rediscovered." The New York Times
Review
"One of the greatest poets Spain has ever produced." Times Literary Supplement
Synopsis
The notion of "duende" became a cornerstone of Federico Garcia Lorca's poetics over the course of his career.
About the Author
Federico García Lorca (1898-1937) was born in Granada, Spain. A poet and playwright (Blood Wedding, The House of Bernarda Alba), he was killed by the Falangists in Spain during the Spanish Civil War.