Carmen de la Torre Vivero

• Name — Carmen de la Torre Vivero • Birth Name — Carmen de la Torre Vivero • Birthplace — Madrid, Spain • Died — 15 December 2008 • Place of death — Madrid, Spain • Occupation — * Poet • Professor of declamation • Education — Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid • Years Active — 1952–1987 • Spouse — José Luis Comas Acosta (m. 1963) • Movement — Versos con faldas • Notable Works — * En las orillas de un lago (1952) • Parajes líricos (1963) • Capas españolas (1965) • Presentimiento (1977) • Páginas de la vida del pintor Eduardo Rosales (1978) • Camino de Bulgaria (1986) • Awards — * French Silver Civil Medal (1962) • Medal of Honor and Merit (Vinculación de Ciencias, Artes y Letras, Buenos Aires, 1959) • Artistic and Cultural Merit Medal of Paris (1962) • Palms of Merit of the Conservatory of Bois-Colombes (1963) • Known for — Participation in Versos con faldas; lectures on Eduardo Rosales

From childhood she wrote poetry, but aware that no one in Spain could make a living from poetry, she sought collaborations in the press to obtain a regular income. In 1947 she sat a competitive examination for auxiliary positions at the Ministry of Finance, though it is not known whether she actually entered the civil service. She graduated from the Madrid Royal Conservatory, won in 1951 the First Prize for Declamation, and later became a professor of that discipline at the same institution. In 1952 she published her first book of poetry, En las orillas de un lago, with a prologue by the Marquis of Lozoya, after which she began collaborating with European and American magazines. Her interest in the Spanish cloak led her to compose at least two books in its honor, which earned her admission to the Spanish Cape Association. On 31 March 1963, she married José Luis Comas Acosta, and both appeared as “capistas” in photographs taken by Martín Santos Yubero. In 1965 she self-published Capas españolas, with a prologue by Dr. Castillo de Lucas. In January 1974, during a tribute to painter Eduardo Rosales, she delivered at the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country the lecture “Pages from the Life of the Painter Eduardo Rosales”, analyzing his artistic beginnings, his stay in Rome, works, awards, and the circumstances of his death. In March 1979 she presented at the International Press Club a poetry book considered extraordinary, Presentimiento. That same year a cultural association of Alcorcón invited her to present at the Ateneo de Madrid the First National Poetry Contest “Alforjas para la Paz”. She died in Madrid on 15 December 2008 without descendants.

• 1953 – En las orillas de un lago. Madrid: author's edition. [Poetry] • 1963 – Parajes líricos. Madrid: author's edition. [Poetry] • 1965 – Capas españolas. Madrid: author's edition. [Poetry] • 1965 – Glosas poéticas de los refranes de la capa. Madrid: author's edition. [Poetry] • 1970 – Poemas a Madrid. Madrid: author's edition. [Poetry] • 1974 – Eternidad. Madrid: author's edition. [Poetry] • 1977 – Presentimiento. Madrid: Martín & Macías. [Poetry] • 1978 – Páginas de la vida del pintor Eduardo Rosales. Madrid: Reyes. [Biography] • 1985 – Roca. Madrid: Catoblepas. [Poetry] • 1986 – Camino de Bulgaria. Madrid: Editorial Popular. [Biography] • 1987 – Poemas de mis viajes. Madrid: author's edition. [Poetry]