Hierro, Jose

▪ 2003

      Spanish poet (b. April 3, 1922, Madrid, Spain—d. Dec. 20, 2002, Madrid), was one of Spain's most recognizable and beloved contemporary literary figures. Although Hierro was not a prolific poet, his intense, concise verse drew critical and commercial attention. After being jailed by Gen. Francisco Franco's government for five years (1939–44), Hierro turned to writing, publishing his first collection of poetry, Tierra sin nosotros, in 1947. A host of awards followed—notably the National Literature Prize in 1990 and the Cervantes Prize, Spain's highest literary honour, for his 1998 work Cuaderno de Nueva York—yet he remained self-effacing about his own talent. In 1999 he was elected to the Spanish Royal Academy. Hierro also had a long career as an art critic with Spanish National Radio, a post he held until 1987.

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