author
Xavier da Cunha
1840–1920
A Portuguese physician, poet, writer, and bibliographer, Xavier da Cunha also helped shape Lisbon’s literary and cultural life. He published under the pseudonym Olímpio de Freitas and led the National Library of Lisbon for nearly a decade.
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About the author
Born in Évora on February 14, 1840, Xavier da Cunha became known as both a medical professional and a wide-ranging intellectual. His work spanned poetry, writing, and bibliography, reflecting the rich literary culture of 19th-century Portugal.
From 1902 to 1911, he served as director of the National Library of Lisbon. He also contributed to the Revista Contemporânea de Portugal e Brasil, sometimes using the pseudonym Olímpio de Freitas.
Among his known works is Lisboa creche: jornal miniatura, published in 1884. He also contributed to In Memoriam: Júlio de Castilho, published in 1920, the year of his death in Lisbon.