Pillars of Galician Literature: Neira Vilas, Taramancos, and Casares

Three Masters of Galician Literature

Xosé Neira Vilas

Born in a humble setting, Xosé Neira Vilas had a humble childhood. While in Cuba, he created and directed an institution devoted to researching the intense presence of Galician culture in Cuba. The narrative scope of his works is extremely broad. His first novel was Memories of a Peasant Boy, featuring the protagonist's life and the conflicts he experiences, sometimes loaded with drama. Through it, in a simple and vibrant prose, we get a clear picture of the life of Galician peasants.

Years later, he published Letters to Lelo and Moncho, also featuring a child protagonist and following a similar thematic line. But his literary output covers much more, including other facets found in books such as:

• Bretemoso Path
• History of Emigrants
• Remuíño Shadows
• A Woman of Iron

He is also the author of numerous children's stories and several research books, including Man of Wood and reports on sailors.

Antón Avilés de Taramancos

Antón Avilés de Taramancos was raised in Taramancos. At 18, he moved to Corunna (A Coruña), where he interacted with other young writers and published his first books. In 1960, he moved to Colombia, a country from which he would not return until twenty years later. Back in Portugal, he published Time in the Mirror in 1982, which collected poems from his American stage.

Later works included:

• Tales Caucanos (1985)
• The Towers in the Air (1989)
• The Last Flight to Harar (published in 1992, shortly after his death)

His poetry is vital, full of images that refer to the union of the poet with nature. The books published after his return feature important, breathtaking epic poetry, sometimes with mythical resonances, although we also find love poems or reflections on life and time. The Real Academia Galega agreed to devote the Day of Galician Literature to him.

Carlos Casares

Born in Ourense, Carlos Casares studied Romance Languages in Santiago, a city where he came into contact with the student movement and representatives of Galicianism. For many years, he pursued the teaching profession, a job he combined with the direction of the Galaxia publishing house and the magazine Grial. In 1995, he was appointed to a significant cultural post, which he held until his death.

He is also the author of important research works; his literary work developed mainly in the field of narrative. In the sixties, he published the story collection Changing Wind and Wounded Three, a novel that experimented with various avant-garde techniques.

In 1975 appeared Toys for a Forbidden Time, a novel that had great importance at the time, offering a portrait of his generation. Soon came the storybook Dreams of Obscure Novels and the novels:

• Ilustrísimas Clio and the Dead from That Summer
• Sitting in a Blue Armchair
• The Sun of Summer

All his works are technically proficient and written in a language designed to reach the widest possible readership.