Porfirio Barba-Jacob

Miguel ?ngel Osorio Ben?tez (July 29, 1883 - January 14, 1942), better known by his pseudonym, Porfirio Barba-Jacob, was a Colombian poet and writer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born in Santa Rosa de Osos, Antioquia, to parents Antonio Mar?a Osorio and Pastora Ben?tez, he was raised up by his grandparents in Angostura. In 1895 he started a journey, first through Colombia, and after 1907 to Central America and the US, which ended in 1930 when he settled down in Mexico City.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Towards 1902 he founded, in Bogot?, the literary magazine "El cancionero antioque?o" (The Antioquian songbook), which he managed under the pseudonym Mar?n Jim?nez. Short after this foundation, he wrote the novel "Virginia", which was never published because the original manuscript was confiscated by the mayor of Santa Rosa for alleged immorality.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1906 he moved to Barranquilla where he adopted the pseudonym Ricardo Arenales. This pseudonym would last until 1922, when in Guatemala he changed it to the pseudonym which he would use for the rest of his life: Porfirio Barba-Jacob. Towards 1907, still in Barranquilla, he wrote his first poems, such as "?rbol viejo", "Campi?a florida", and his most famous work - "Par?bola de la vida profunda" (Parable of the deep life).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In his journey through Central America, Mexico and the US, he contributed to many magazines and journals. He befriended Porfirio D?az, so he had to flee to Guatemala, from where he fled again, this time to Cuba, for disagreeing with Manuel Estrada.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1918 he returned to Mexico, where it is said that he wrote a biography of Pancho Villa. In 1922 he was expelled by ?lvaro Obreg?n and fled again to Guatemala, from where he was again expelled in 1924 by Jorge Ubico. Barba-Jacob then went to El Salvador, and after being deported by Alfonso Qui?ones, he had to travel to Honduras, New Orleans and Cuba. In 1927 he went back to Colombia; after some recitals and contributions to the Colombian journal El Espectador, he left Colombia on what would be his last trip.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He died in 1942 of tuberculosis in Mexico City. Four years after his death, on January 11, 1946, his ashes were claimed by the Colombian government, and were given back in the Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

July 29: July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining....

1883: 1883 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar)....

January 14: January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 351 days remaining (352 in leap years). It is celebrated as New Year's Day by those still following the Julian calendar....

Porfirio Barba-Jacob related Images and Photos (experimental)

Jacob's Dream	Jacob's Dream	Jacob's Ladder	Jacob's Ladder
Porfirio Diaz of Mexico C.1910	Jacob's Ladder Toy	Jacob's Return Home	Jacob and Rachel
Jacob and Rachel	Eclipse Jacob Bookmark	Bible Collection, The: Jacob (DVD)	New Moon - Jacob