Banus, Maria (1914–1999)

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Banus, Maria (1914–1999)

Romanian poet. Born in Bucharest, Romania, 1914; died July 14, 1999, in Bucharest; studied law and philology.

Known as grande dame of Romanian poetry, had 1st work published at 14; active in anti-fascist movements (1930s), worked for the Resistance in Romania during WWII; though named an official "Stalinist poet" following the war and the occupation of Romania, was soon disenchanted with Soviet regime and returned to her own voice; translated poetry from German, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and French, including poems of Goethe, Pushkin, Neruda, Hikmet and Rimbaud; works include The Girl's Country (1937), Joy (1947), I Am Speaking to You, America! (1955), Metamorphosis (1963) and Anyone and Something (1972). Demon in Brackets was trans. into English by Dan Dutescu and published by Dufour (1994).

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