José Albi


José Albi Fita was a Spanish poet, literary critic, and translator. He was the honorary president of the Asociación Valenciana de Escritores y Críticos Literarios. Albi was the "last of the post-Spanish Civil War poets".

Early life and education

In 1922, José Albi Fita was born in Valencia but grew up in Sueca. He studied law at the Universitat de València, where he met Joan Fuster, and the Universidad de Deusto. Albi received a degree in philosophy and letters from the Universidad de Zaragoza and earned a doctorate from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. During his lifetime, Alibi remained in contact with Miguel Hernández, Dámaso Alonso and Gabriel Celaya.

Career milestones

In the 1950s, inspired by a reading of Marinero en tierra by Rafael Alberti, Albi began to write poetry for the first time in earnest. He began publishing the Cuadernos literarios journal and his literary critique appeared in Verbo y Cuadernos literarios, a review which he founded in 1954. Albi began writing under the pseudonym, "Diez Claves" or "Ten Keys" while employing surrealistic introversion terms. He is also noted for his collaboration with Joan Fuster in anthologizing the work of Ángel Crespo, Paul Éluard, and the Spanish surrealists.

Awards

As a poet Albi was popular both with critics and the general public, and received a number of awards. In 1957, he received his first significant honor from the Generalitat Valenciana, the "premio Valencia de Literatura", for Vida de un hombre. In 1958, he won the "premio Gabriel Miró" for El silencio de Dios.
In 1977, Albi received a second "premio Valencia" for Odisea 77. In 1978, he was awarded the "premio Miguel Ángel de Argumosa" for Elegía atlántica.
In 2002, Albi received his third "premio Valencia de Literatura". Moreover, he served as honorary president of the Asociación Valenciana de Escritores y Críticos Literarios.

Final years and death

Albi maintained interest in Oliva, Spain as that was his motherland and the Sea side resort of Xàbia.
Albi died at his home in Jávea on 7 June 2010.