“Letras galegas ‘María Mariño’”. Analysis of the reception of the poet’s work

Abstract

Each May 17, since 1963 (the centenary of the publication of Rosalía de Castro’s Cantares Gallegos), Galician literature celebrates the Galician Literature Day, paying tribute to a deceased male or female writer (although for now only three women have been honored with such distinction). 2007 was the year of the third woman writer: María Mariño. Nevertheless, such distinction brought about some controversies, due to two different reasons and, especially, because of the shadow of doubts still surrounding María Mariño figure. This article focuses on this second factor. Through the analysis of the criticism produced about this poet, this paper will try to elucidate to what extent the flood of publications dedicated to her –since the Galician Real Academy made 2007 “her” year– have meant an step forward in the quantitative knowledge about her work, but above all a qualitative improvement of such knowledge.