Manuel Curros Enríquez

Manuel Curros Enríquez (September 15, 1851 - February 7, 1908) was a Galician writer and journalist in the Galician language, and is considered to be one of the leading figures of Galician culture and identity.

Early life

Manuel Curros Enríquez was born in Celanova, Galicia, Spain. He was the son of a scriban. Manuel went to school until he had to help his father as a scriban.

When he was sixteen years old, he ran away from home and went to live with some relatives. He ended up in Madrid, living with his brother Ricardo. There, he had a chance to continue his studies and he even went to University. He started to study Law, but did not get a degree.

He was still a Law student in Madrid when he started to publish poems in Galician. His "Cantiga", written around this time, was later put to music and has now become a popular Galician song.

After the revolution in September, 1868, Curros adopted democratic ideals. He then began a literary career. He also shared a home with Modesta Luisa Polonia Vázquez Rodríguez beginning in 1871, having a son with her in 1873, and then marrying her in 1877.

In this same year, Curros wins a price in Ourense with his poem A Virxe do Cristal, and is widely recognized as a prominent Galician poet. He then moved to Ourense where he continued his writings.

In 1877 he moved back to Galicia and he took part in a Literary Competition in Ourense, being awarded several prizes for his submissions of Galician poetry. In 1880 he published Aires da......
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