was concerned, we do knowthat he suffered under the strictures of a conservative Spanish society. Federico moved to Granada in order to study for his "bachillerato" where he learned toplay the piano but poetry claimed his heart and, although a very good musician, he wouldnever be the great musician that his teacher, Manuel de Falla, had predicted. He publisheda small book in 1918 called Impresiones y Paisajes as a result of his travels about Spain.In 1921 he published his first book of poems called, appropriately, Libro de Poemas. Healso began to write his famous Poema del Cante Jondo which was not published until tenyears later. In 1928 he also published Romancero Gitano. These two works are what mostdefine the nature of Federico Garca-Lorca's genius for most of us. It should be noted thatGarca-Lorca disliked being known as the "gypsy poet" and it would be a mistake tocompletely define the man by these works, however great they be. Some biographersassert that it was a need to separate himself from the "gypsy poet" renown that led him toNew York and the subsequent work: Poeta en Nueva York. Although sympathetic to the Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War, FedericoGarca-Lorca was apolitical. It was the madness of the times and the ruthlessness of the"Derechistas" that forced him back to Granada and his death in the early morning ofAugust 19, 1936. He was arrested, held for a time, and then executed by firing squad. What did Garca-Lorca do that was so different than other Spanish poets? Federico Garca-Lorca used the gypsy motif, the Spanish ballad, and the cante jondo toexpress his poetry in a new and refreshing manner that utilized old forms with new wordsand images. Such was his genius, Garca-Lorca brilliantly avoided the awkward pretensethat he was an uneducated gypsy and was able to convey the emotion of the folk songwith poetic freshness. Was Garca-Lorca a gypsy? No. He was the son of a liberal landowner. Why does Garca-Lo...
