Nuestros Ilustres

Joan Miró i Ferrà went down in history as a total artist who embraced everything: painting, poetry, music and sculpture. From an early age he traced lines and circles inspired by constellations, thus germinating a style that years later would make him one of the most important artists of the 20th century. For Miró, art meant opening windows, sharing experiences and speaking a universal language. Therefore, in this book we invite you to learn about his work and life through games and artistic experiments. You will learn a new way of seeing the world, and you will discover the secrets that the universe holds! Both the narrative register and the style of the images are suitable for school children between 6 and 11 years of age. The content as well as the illustrations make sure to deal with didactic themes transversal to the character's areas of activity, both for family reading as well as for use in schools and to reinforce the educational program. This title is included in Nuestros Ilustres -the series of biographies of outstanding figures in the fields of science, culture and history-, which is intended to serve as a cultural and educational support, as well as an extracurricula

When art is in your blood, not even an ocean can contain it. Josefina was born on the island of Gran Canaria, a natural paradise that inspired her and impregnated her soul with the smell of salt to accompany her on her travels around the world. In addition to being an excellent poet, Josefina worked as a singer and actress in film and theater, she even founded her own theater company and proved that talent knows no boundaries. The island girl, that woman with ultramarine blue eyes, dazzled the world with her beauty and creativity.

Martí n Chirino was one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. Although his name has crossed borders, he always recognized the landscape of his native Canary Islands as a source of inspiration. Eager for knowledge, he traveled around the world to learn from different cultures, which opened his horizons to a unique work that condenses the art of three continents. His sculptures, large iron pieces in which he plays with all kinds of spatial geometries, are a waste of imagination and talent that have made him the best ambassador of Canarian and Spanish culture throughout the world.

Agustí n de Betancourt was a military man, engineer and great enlightened master of engineers and architects, born in Tenerife in 1758. Throughout a dazzling career that would lead him to be a protagonist of history in three different countries, he contributed to improving the lives of his fellow citizens with countless technological innovations in the field of public works. Even today, almost 300 years later, the figure of this universal Canary Islander is still remembered around the world.

Alicia de Larrocha is considered one of the greatest pianists of all time. Her passion for music began very early, so much so that she gave her first recital at the age of five and made her debut in Madrid at the age of twelve. Her career, which led her to play in the best halls in the world, was dizzying, reaching more than a hundred concerts a year. Despite the countless distinctions she received, she remained a humble person who dedicated her life to sharing her innate talent. In her own words, she only wanted others to enjoy music as much as she did.

Blas Cabrera was born in Lanzarote in 1878. His parents wanted him to study law, but his passion for science would end up marking his destiny. With immense dedication and enthusiasm, he became one of the most important European scientists during an era of revolutionary advances. He was largely responsible for the development of modern physics in Spain and became close friends with other great scientific geniuses such as Albert Einstein and Marie Curie.

Benito Pé rez Galdó s was a novelist, journalist and politician of Canarian origin. He is considered one of the best representatives, worldwide, of the realist novel of the 19th century. A fundamental narrator of Spanish-language literature, he is possibly the greatest Spanish novelist after the universally recognized inventor of the genre: Miguel de Cervantes. Pé rez Galdó s was a true humanist and his life was dedicated almost entirely to his great passion, literature, with which he tried to address the problems of people of all social backgrounds. His compassionate and progressive attitude undoubtedly contributed to establish his position as one of the most respected and beloved figures in the Spanish society of his time.

Mercedes Pinto was, above all, a woman of letters. Writer, playwright, journalist and speaker, she stood out from very early on in the cultural environment of the Canary Islands, her native land, where her verses earned her the nickname of "La Poetisa Canaria" (The Canary Poetess). Her verses, celebrated by the great Pablo Neruda or Juana de Ibarbourou, sang of love and nostalgia and, nevertheless, her prose is a denunciation of the situation of women in her time, before which she could not remain impassive. Her words earned her exile, which she took advantage of to get to know and enrich herself with other cultures and to continue spreading her ideas. She was one of those brave women who paved the way fighting for women's equality. To know her story is to remember a past that opened a door that should never be closed again.

Would you dare to pose as a prince to gain the trust of a sultan? In 1803, Domingo Badí a from Barcelona grew a bushy beard, dressed in a djellaba and turban and, under the name of Ali Bey, infiltrated Morocco on an exciting espionage mission. This tireless adventurer was a lover of botany and Arab culture, and his character led him to explore exotic countries to satisfy his thirst for knowledge and new experiences. Both the narrative register and the style of the images are suitable for school children between 6 and 11 years of age. The content as well as the illustrations make sure to deal with didactic themes transversal to the character's fields of activity, especially those related to the world of engineering, history and politics, both for family reading as well as for use in schools and to reinforce the educational program.

Ildefonso Cerdá will go down in history as the founder of modern urban planning. A man ahead of his time, he was able to unite his two passions, engineering and politics, in a project that would bear his name: the Barcelona Eixample Plan or Cerdá Plan. Born at a time when the conditions of the working class in large cities were deplorable, he dedicated his life to creating a better environment for the inhabitants. Despite the opposition of his contemporaries, he designed a city in accordance with his ideal of justice, equality and freedom. A clean place, full of light and greenery: the city of the future.

Brothers Juan and Fernando Leó n y Castillo dedicated their careers to improving the lives of all Canary Islanders. Juan was an important engineer and Fernando an accomplished politician. These pages tell their story and that of one of their great joint projects: the Port of La Luz and Las Palmas. The project took them many years of work and effort, but it would connect the Canary Islands with the world and would represent a giant step in the development of the Islands.

On July 17, 1920, a flourishing, joyful and moving Barcelona welcomed Juan Antonio Samaranch, a future illustrious Barcelona native and a great defender of the city's culture. A lover of sport from an early age, Samaranch did his utmost to promote it in every corner of the world. With courage and determination, he made it accessible to women and people from less developed countries, to promote culture, peace and the fair spirit of sports competitions. Her passion and dreams made Barcelona the host of the 1992 Olympic Games and transformed Barcelona forever.