Juan José Domenchina


Juan José Domenchina Moreu was a Spanish poet and literary critic from the "Generation of '27".

Life

Juan José Domenchina was born in Madrid in 1898.
He trained as a teacher but never taught.
His early poetry shows the influence of Juan Ramón Jiménez, although it has a more Baroque quality.
Apart from poetry he wrote at least two novels, La túnica de Neso and Dédalo.
His wife was Ernestina de Champourcín, also a poet and novelist.
By 1936 Domenchina had published eight books of poetry.
Domenchina also contributed literary criticism to the Madrid newspapers El Sol and La Voz, and was involved in politics.
During the Spanish Civil War under the government of Juan Negrín the sub-secretariat of Propaganda was headed by Leonard Martín Echevarría of the Republican Left. Domenchina, also of the Republican Left, headed the Spanish Information Service.
Due to his Republican ideals Domenchina was forced into exile in Mexico after the civil war.
His wife accompanied him to Mexico and found work as an interpreter and translator.
Domenchina's poetry changed in nature, reflecting the profound emotional impact of the defeat of the Republic.
His later poetry was elegant and precise but his youthful vigor was replaced by passive stoicism, erotic themes mostly disappeared, and his lively interest in the nature of life and man were replaced by melancholy introspection.
His last book of poetry was Exul Umbra.
He died in Mexico in 1959.

Publications

Publications include: