Tomás Blanco (December 9, 1896 – April 12, 1975) was a Puerto Rican writer, poet, narrator, historian, author and physician. Blanco was a writer during the 1930s who was known for his critical essays that analyzed the Puerto Rican culture. Similar to other authors of his generation that lived through the Great Depression, his work focused on political and social issues. He also wrote novels, short stories and poetry.
Early years
Blanco (birth name: Tomás Blanco Geigel) was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education in Catholic schools. After graduating from high school, he went to the United States and enrolled in the Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., to study medicine. Tomás Blanco first pursued the path of pharmaceutical work but progressively began to focus his attention on literature.
Blanco traveled throughout Europe and in Spain where he developed his love for writing. Blanco wrote about literature, plus he was also a music critic.
Written works
Blanco returned to Puerto Rico where he dedicated himself to write about Puerto Rican topics. His works are considered very important in the analysis of the "state" of the Puerto Rican culture in both the 19th century and 20th century.
Tomás Blanco died on April 12, 1975, in the city of San Juan.
Other essays include Sobre Palés Matos (1950), which analyzes Palés Matos' poetry influenced by African and Antillean culture and Miserere: en la muerte de Georges Rouault y luz perpetua luzca en él (1959), a review on various paintings by Rouault.
He also wrote essays for many newspapers and magazines, such as the Ateneo Puertorriqueño, Isla Asomante, Presente, Revista de la Asociación de Mujeres Graduadas and Revista del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. He wrote the essay Elogio de la plena en the magazine, Ateneo Puertorriqueño, which discussed the diversity of Puerto Rico and how it positively impacts the island.
Short stories
Blanco wrote a number of short stories, such as Los aguinaldos del Infante: glosa de Epifanía (1954) about Christmas, La dragoneta: cuento de Semana Santa (1956) and Cuentos sin ton ni son (1970).