Carmen Firan - poet. Also prose writer and publisher. Born on November 29th 1958 in Craiova, she is the daughter of professor and literary historian Florea Firan and of Elena Firan (née Neagoe), a librarian. After graduating “Nicolae Balcescu” secondary school of Craiova ( 1977), she graduated from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Craiova, the Mathematics Department, in 1981.

In her student years, she attended the literary circles of the literary reviews “Amfiteatru” and “Ramuri”, and she was a member of the editorial staff of the students’ literary review of Craiova. After 1981, she attended “The Monday Literary Circle” / “Cenaclul de Luni” of the University Center of Bucharest, whose director was literary critic and professor Nicolae Manol escu.

She first appeared in print with poetry in 1979. Her debut in a book took place in 1981 with the collection of poems Illusions On My Own / Iluzii pe cont propriu (Scrisul Romanesc). She contributed poetry, prose, theatre plays, articles, essays, travel notes, translations to the following literary reviews: “Ramuri”, “Luceafarul”, “Romania literara”, “Amfiteatru”, “Viaţa studenţeasca”, “Apostrof, “Dilema”, “Vineri”, “Contrapunct”, “Contrafort”, “Teatru”, “Vatra” and others, and to magazines in the USA, Canada. Sweden. Germany, and Israel. Later, she published the books: Paradise For Monday / Paradis pentru ziua de luni (poems, Albatros. 1983); Tamer of Stolen Lives / Imblînzitor de vieţi furate (poems. Albatros, 1984): Steps Under the Sea / Trepte sub mare (poems, Cartea Romaneasca, 1990); Closer and Closer / Tot mai aproape (novel. Albatros. 1991); Pure Black / Negru pur (poems. Albatros, 1995); Places to Live Alone / Locuri de trait singur (poems, Cartea Romaneasca, 1997). She wrote a play. Pollen On Island / Polen pe insula, staged at the National Theatre of Craiova in 1982-1986, a radio play. Imaginary Hunting / Vînatoare imaginara (1983), and two screenplays. The Stars Owners / Proprietarii de stele and Trap for Angels / Capcana pentru îngeri (1998). She also wrote several poetry books for children. She was included in anthologies of poetry and essays published in France. Sweden, the USA. Great Britain. Germany. Hungary, Israel.

She attended a cultural management course in Holland (1991) and a training in publishing in France (1996). She also took part in conferences, symposiums, colloquiums of literature and translations in France, the USA. Canada, Belgium, Sweden, and Israel. At present, the author is programme director at the Romanian Cultural Centre in New York. She is a member of the Writers’ Union in Romania and of the editorial board of “Lettre Internationale” literary review.

Several authors have written critical assessments of her work, such as: Nicolae Manolescu. Laurenţiu Ulici (“Romania literara”, no. 44/1981). Alex. Stefanescu, Andrei Codrescu, Dan Cristea, Stefan Aug. Doinas. Al. Cistelecan, loan Holban, Traian T. Cosovei (in “SLAST”, no. 8/1984). Constanţa Buzea (“Amfiteatru”, no. 9/1981), Grigore Chiper, Constantin M. Popa (“Ramuri”, no. 1/1984), Horia Garbea, Radu G. Ţeposu (in The Tragic & Grotesque History of the Dark Literary Decade, the Ninth / Istoria tragica & grotesca a întunecatului deceniu literar noua. Eminescu. 1993), and others.

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Tags: poet, prose writer

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Category: Poets  - ( Poets Archive)

Date Added: 24 November '11

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