Miguel Torga
Miguel Torga, born Adolfo Correia da Rocha on August 12, 1907, in Portugal, is recognized as one of the foremost Portuguese writers of the 20th century. Initially facing financial hardships that cut his education short, he worked in various roles, including as a house servant and later on a coffee plantation in Brazil. Torga pursued medical studies at the University of Coimbra, where he began publishing poetry and prose, gaining literary recognition with works like "Altitudes" and "Pão ázimo." His literary career flourished despite the oppressive censorship of the Salazar regime, which led him to establish the literary journal Manifesto, later ceasing publication due to government restrictions.
Torga's life was marked by his commitment to both medicine and literature, culminating in extensive works such as the autobiographical series "A criação do mundo" and the daily chronicle "Diario," published over several decades. A noted critic of the dictatorship, he famously rejected Portugal's National Prize for Literature in 1969 as a form of protest. Torga received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Camoes Prize and nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. He continued to write until his death on January 17, 1995, leaving behind a rich legacy that intertwines his medical profession with profound literary contributions.
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Miguel Torga
Writer
- Born: August 12, 1907
- Birthplace: Sao Martinho de Anta, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal
- Died: January 17, 1995
- Place of death: Coimbra, Portugal
Biography
Miguel Torga, a twentieth century physician, poet, and novelist, was born in 1907 in the mountainous region of northeast Portugal, the son of Francisco Correia Rocha and Maria de Cincericao de Barros Rocha. Torga received his early education in local public schools. However, financial difficulties forced him to quit school in the fourth grade and work as a house servant to earn money for his family.
In 1919, Torga’s father sent him to the Lamego Seminary to study for the priesthood. While Torga was deeply religious, he refused to accept the Old Testament teaching of a vengeful God. By 1920, this attitude toward biblical teachings hindered his preparation for the priesthood and Torga was sent to Brazil to work on his uncle’s coffee plantation. In 1925, as a reward for five years of labor, Torga’s uncle offered to pay for his education. With his uncle’s financial backing, Torga enrolled in medical school at the University of Coimbra in Portugal.
While at the university, Torga began to publish his first poems in various journals. He developed a literary reputation with works such as “Altitudes” and “O caminho do meio.” In addition to poetry, Torga published his first prose work, Pão ázimo, in 1931.
In 1933, Torga graduated from medical school and returned to his hometown of Sao Martinho de Anta, where he worked as a physician in a local clinic. While working as a doctor, Torga continued to write. In 1936, he founded the literary journal Manifesto, in which he published the works of many authors, including his friend Vitorio Nemesio. However, at this time António de Oliveria Salazar came to power in Portugal and imposed strict censorship laws on artists and writers. Due to these restricted freedoms, Manifesto eventually ceased publication. With the end of Manifesto, Torga turned to writing A criação do mundo, a series of five autobiographical novels.
In 1939, at the home of his friend Vitorio Memesi, Torga met his future wife Andee Crabbe. They had to put their plans for marriage on hold, however, as Torga was arrested for openly criticizing Salazar in one of his publications. After completing a three-month prison sentence, Torga married Crabbe and moved to Coimbra. There, he opened a private medical office.
In the 1940’s, Torga began his most extensive writing project, Diario. This work, a daily record of his life experiences, was published in sixteen volumes between 1941 and 1993. In his later years, Torga continued to practice medicine and write. He also maintained his political stance against the Salazar government. In 1969, Torga refused Portugal’s National Prize for Literature in protest of Salazar’s dictatorship.
Torga’s literary achievements earned him many awards, including the Vidal Literaria from the Portuguese Academy of Letters, The Medal of Honor from the International Dean’s Association, Portugal’s Camoes Prize, and two nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. Torga continued to write in his last days, often creating his works from the confines of bed. In his sixteenth volume of Diario he wrote his final work, “Requiem por mim,” a requiem for himself. Torga died in 1995 at the age of eighty-seven.