Quick Facts
Biography
José Maria dos Reis Pereira, better known by the pen name José Regio (Vila do Conde, Portugal, September 17, 1901 — December 22, 1969), was a Portuguese writer who lived most of his life in Portalegre (1929 to 1962). He was the brother of Júlio Maria dos Reis Pereira, a painter and illustrater.
In 1927 he founded the magazine Presença which would come to be cornerstone of the second modernism movement in Portugal, of which he was the main ideologue. Aside from this magazine he also made contributions to newspapers such as the Diário de Notícias and the Comércio do Porto.
He was defiant of the Estado Novo regime and was a member of the Movimento de Unidade Democrática (Democratic Unity Movement), supporting Norton de Matos's bid for the Portuguese presidency.
As a writer, José Régio was the author of novels, plays, poetry and essays. His works are hare strongly influenced by the theme of conflict between Man and God and between Individual and Society, in a critical analysis of solitude and human relations. As an essayer, he dedicated himself to the study of Camões and Florbela Espanca.
Published works
Poetry
- 1925 - Poemas de Deus e do Diabo.
- 1929 - Biografia.
- 1935 - As Encruzilhadas de Deus.
- 1945 - Fado (1941), Mas Deus é Grande.
- 1954 - A Chaga do Lado.
- 1961 - Filho do Homem.
- 1968 - Cântico Suspenso.
- 1970 - Música Ligeira.
- 1971 - Colheita da Tarde.
Fiction
- 1934 - Jogo da Cabra-Cega.
- 1941 - Davam Grandes Passeios aos Domingos.
- 1942 - O Príncipe com Orelhas de Burro.
- 1945 to 1966 - A Velha Casa.
- 1946 - Histórias de Mulheres, The Flame-Coloured Dress, UK, 1999 (+ Davam Grandes Passeios...) ISBN 1-85754-386-6
- 1962 - Há Mais Mundos.
Essay
- 1936 - Críticas e Criticados.
- 1938 - António Botto e o Amor.
- 1940 - Em Torno da Expressão Artística.
- 1952 - As Correntes e as Individualidades na Moderna Poesia Portuguesa.
- 1964 - Ensaios de Interpretação Crítica.
- 1967 - Três Ensaios sobre Arte.
- 1977 - Páginas de Doutrina e Crítica da Presença.
Play
- 1940 - Jacob e o Anjo.
- 1947 - Benilde ou a Virgem-Mãe.
- 1949 - El-Rei Sebastião.
- 1954 - A Salvação do Mundo.
- 1957 - Três Peças em Um Acto.