author
Joan Alcover
1854–1926
A major Mallorcan poet, essayist, and public figure, he is remembered for verse that turns private grief into clear, musical language. His poem "La Balanguera" became especially enduring, later serving as the anthem of Mallorca.
1 Audiobook
Cap al tard : Poesies
by Joan Alcover
About the author
Born in Palma de Mallorca in 1854, Joan Alcover i Maspons studied law in Barcelona and then returned to Mallorca, where he worked in the legal world and also took part in politics. Alongside that public career, he built a lasting reputation as a writer.
Alcover first published poetry in Spanish, but he later became one of the important voices writing in Catalan from Mallorca. He is often linked with the Mallorca School, and his work is known for its emotional restraint, elegance, and deep feeling.
A great deal of his best-known poetry grew out of personal loss, including the deaths of his wife and children, and that sorrow gave his writing unusual gravity and tenderness. Today he is especially remembered for "La Balanguera," one of his most famous poems, which later became the anthem of Mallorca.