ALONSO, DMASO

born Oct. 22, 1898, Madrid, Spain died Jan. 24, 1990, Madrid Spanish poet, literary critic, and scholar, a member of the group of poets called the Generation of 1927. Educated at the University of Madrid, Alonso taught at the Centre of Historical Studies, Madrid (192336), and was a professor at the University of Valencia (193339) and the University of Madrid (193968). He was also a lecturer or visiting professor at universities in Germany, Britain, and, frequently, the United States. His first volume of poems, Poemas puros (1921; Pure Poems), were imagist, emphasizing economy of expression, but his later poetry evolved into a freer, more complex style, especially in his most famous poetical works, Oscura noticia (1944; Dark Message) and Hijos de la ira (1944; Children of Wrath). Poemas escogidos (Selected Poetry) appeared in 1969. In 1978 Alonso was awarded Spain's highest literary honour, the Miguel de Cervantes prize. As a critic, Alonso helped revive the reputation of the 17th-century Baroque poet Luis de Gngora with his edition of Gngora's Soledades (1927; Solitudes) and his essay La lengua potica de Gngora (1935; The Poetic Language of Gngora) and other later works. His mastery of criticism is seen best in Poesa espaola (1950; 5th ed., 1966; Spanish Poetry). Alonso also translated the works of such authors as James Joyce, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and T.S. Eliot.