Bohemia lives on here. This plaque honors Emilio Carrere. He dedicated much of his work to Madrid from 1881 to 1947. Let’s delve into the life of this remarkable poet, journalist, and novelist.
Emilio Carrere was born on December 18, 1881. His birthplace was in Madrid. He was a key figure in the Decadentism artistic movement. Emilio’s mother died during childbirth. His father was Senén Canido Pardo. He was a lawyer with political ambitions. Initially, his father distanced himself from Emilio. Later, he bequeathed his library and a sum of money to his son.
Raised by his grandmother, Emilio first pursued painting. Then, he found his passion in theater. He attended a school for the poor. There, he discovered a love for billiards. This led to an acquaintance with zarzuela composer Federico Chueca.
Carrere began publishing verses in La Avispa and La Chispa. He frequented literary circles and befriended painter Julio Romero de Torres. His first book, Románticas, appeared in 1902. It had a Bécquer-like tone. Influenced by French poets like Verlaine, he embraced bohemian life.
In 1906, Emilio Carrere married Milagro Sáenz de Miera. That year, he prepared an anthology of modernist poetry with Gregorio Pueyo. It was titled La corte de los poetas. Carrere passionately defended the new aesthetic and Rubén Darío in its prologue.
His poem “La musa del arroyo” from El caballero de la muerte gained immense popularity. It reflected his bohemian and decadent worldview. From 1907, he penned short novels about Madrid’s underworld. These included La cofradía de la pirueta and La tristeza del burdel. Carrere’s interest in theosophy is evident in works like El destino payaso.
Carrere embraced the wild, nocturnal life. He was often with other bohemians. They included Pedro Barrantes, Alejandro Sawa, and Ciro Bayo. Between 1910 and 1912, he contributed to Vida Socialista. This possibly stemmed from his sympathy for the oppressed. His Obras completas were published between 1919 and 1922. In 1922, El sacrificio, a novel set in the Moroccan wars, was released.
Known for his gambling habits, Carrere sought additional income in theater. His finances stabilized in 1929 when his father left him a large inheritance. He moved to a luxury apartment and bought a car. By then, he had become a monarchist and anti-republican. After the Civil War, he worked for the newspaper Madrid. He published poems praising Franco’s regime.
Emilio Carrere died on April 30, 1947. His work fell into obscurity. It was rediscovered in the late 20th century. This coincided with renewed interest in bohemia and fantastic literature. His novel La torre de los siete jorobados is considered a classic.
Emilio Carrere was named official chronicler of Madrid on November 11, 1943.
This house stands as a testament to Emilio Carrere’s life. He lived in this house and dedicated his life to Madrid. He captured Madrid’s essence. Carrere was a keen observer in the city’s cafes. He immortalized ordinary people in his writings.