author
João de Lebre e Lima
1889–1959
A Portuguese poet and publicist linked to early modernism, he moved between literature and diplomacy while staying close to the lively magazine culture of his time. His work is remembered for its reflective tone and for its connection to figures around Fernando Pessoa.
1 Audiobook
O Claro Riso Medieval
by João de Lebre e Lima
About the author
Born in Porto in 1889, João de Lebre e Lima — born João Maria da Silva Lebre e Lima — became known as a poet and publicist associated with Portuguese modernism. He studied law, later worked as a diplomat, and also used the pen name João do Rio.
He collaborated with a range of periodicals and was one of the founders and editors of Dionysos, a monthly review devoted to philosophy, science, and art. Sources on Portuguese modernism also note that he studied experimental psychology in Geneva and served in diplomatic posts in places including England and China before later settling in Mexico.
Lebre e Lima was part of the literary world around Fernando Pessoa, who addressed him in a well-known 1914 letter. He died in Mexico in 1959, leaving behind a body of work tied to the restless, exploratory spirit of early twentieth-century Portuguese letters.