Adrian Păunescu (; 20 July 1943 – 5 November 2010) was a Romanian writer, publisher, cultural promoter,
translator, and politician. A profoundly charismatic personality, a controversial and complex figure, the artist and the man are almost impossible to separate. On the one hand he stands accused of collaboration with the Communist regime, but on the other hand he was persecuted and ostracised by the regime when he started to confront its failures, and when his influence started to be considered dangerous.
Păunescu was called "Romania's most famous poet" in an
Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City.
Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
story, quoted by ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''.
Life
Born in
Copăceni,
Bălți County, in what is now the
Republic of Moldova
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The unrecognised ...
, Păunescu spent his childhood in
Bârca,
Dolj County
Dolj County (; originally meant ''Dol(no)-Jiu River, Jiu'', "lower Jiu", as opposed to ''Gorj'' (''upper Jiu'')) is a county (judeÈ›) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in Oltenia, with the capital city at Craiova.
Demographics
In 2011, ...
. He started his secondary studies at the
Frații Buzești High School in
Craiova
Craiova (, also , ) is the largest city in southwestern Romania, List of Romanian cities, the seventh largest city in the country and the capital of Dolj County, situated near the east bank of the river Jiu River, Jiu in central Oltenia.
It i ...
and then continued at
Saint Sava High School in
Bucharest
Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...
.
Păunescu studied
philology
Philology () is the study of language in Oral tradition, oral and writing, written historical sources. It is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history, and linguistics with strong ties to etymology. Philology is also de ...
at the
University of Bucharest and became a writer and journalist. He was an influential public figure for Romanian youth throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
[ Though he was criticised for writing flattering poems about Nicolae Ceaușescu,]['']The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''
"Adrian Paunescu, Poet Who Praised a Dictator, Dies at 67"
(with ''Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City.
Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
''), 7 November 2010 print edition, page A34 (via www.nytimes.com) Păunescu remained popular in Romania,[ where he appeared on television several times a week.][
As posthumously summarized by newspaper '' România Liberă'', Păunescu "is still viewed as a hero by the man in the street"]['' Presseurop'']
"Death of CeauÅŸescu's poet laureate"
(with '' România Liberă''), 8 November 2010, www.presseurop.eu/en although "intellectuals continue to question his integrity and the literary value of his work".[
]
''Flacăra'' and ''Cenaclul Flacăra''
A member of the Union of Communist Youth between 1966 and 1968, and, between 1968 and 1989, of the Romanian Communist Party
The Romanian Communist Party ( ; PCR) was a communist party in Romania. The successor to the pro-Bolshevik wing of the Socialist Party of Romania, it gave an ideological endorsement to a communist revolution that would replace the social system ...
, Păunescu gained control over a major weekly publication, '' Flacăra'' and became the producer and host of an immensely popular itinerant series of cultural events in the country, '' Cenaclul Flacăra'', founded in 1973 and ended by the Communist authorities in 1985. The events included folk and pop music, poetry recitals, and Păunescu's personal and often rousing speeches. Through this cultural forum, Păunescu promoted Romanian poetry and music, instilling a nationalistic tone calling for pride in Romanian spiritual-artistic values and expression, seemingly as a counterpoint to the "puerile and pernicious" pop music (both Romanian and foreign) available on radio stations. Poets promoted included canonical names of Romanian literature: Mihai Eminescu, Lucian Blaga, Octavian Goga, George Bacovia, Nichita Stănescu, Ana Blandiana. Păunescu's own poems, recited at these events, have a social theme, about the life and difficulties of ordinary people. They remain very popular decades after, many Romanians being able to recite parts of them from memory. The performers were a mix of professional artists as well as talented amateurs vetted by Păunescu himself. Many of these "novices" have become famous performers, household names — for example, Nicu Alifantis, Adrian IvaniÈ›chi, , Mădălina Amon, Ștefan HruÈ™că, Mircea Baniciu, , Tatiana Stepa, and many others. At the height of its popularity, the events were gathering tens of thousands of young people, filling stadiums.
Poetry
As with the man, Adrian Păunescu's poetry is difficult to define or pigeonhole easily. On debut he writes in a modernist and mythological tone - reinterpreting old myths couched within abstract contemporary rhetoric. In this phase he also writes "pure poetry", similar to his illustrious contemporary Nichita Stănescu, although most people and literary critics mostly remember the later Păunescu poetry, the one moving to a Messianic tone, where his verses were sung and recited by thousands of young people in stadiums. Regarding the later, singer and song-writer Daniel Reynaud, who occasionally performs (Australia, USA) songs on verses of Păunescu translated in English, expressed the opinion that ''Against War'' (''Antirăzboinica'' - Verses Adrian Păunescu, music Valeriu Sterian, translation Daniel Ioniță) is on par with any anti war poem or song
A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usu ...
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...
, or anyone, might have written.
According to literary critic Nicolae Manolescu, Adrian Păunescu is both loved and loathed, authentic and false, capable of sublime poetry as well as mediocre slogans. He certainly irritates, be it by default or design: "I hate everything about this poet, apart from his poetry..." ( Eugen Barbu). Păunescu is capable of large and swift movements of emotion and expression in his poetry, where loud posing can be followed by delicate doubt, and a pamphlet by a hymn. "A devilish body with an angel's soul". Literary historian and critic is of the opinion that if professionally anthologised, liberated from its weaker parts, Adrian Păunescu's poetry could be on par with the best of what Romanian poetry has to offer.
Political career
After the Romanian Revolution
The Romanian revolution () was a period of violent Civil disorder, civil unrest in Socialist Republic of Romania, Romania during December 1989 as a part of the revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several countries around the world, primarily ...
of 1989, Păunescu pursued a political career, aligning himself with socialism
Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...
and then social-democratic political parties.
In 1996, he ran in that year's Romanian presidential election but received only 87,163 votes (0.69%). He was a senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...
from 1992 to 2008, representing Dolj County
Dolj County (; originally meant ''Dol(no)-Jiu River, Jiu'', "lower Jiu", as opposed to ''Gorj'' (''upper Jiu'')) is a county (judeÈ›) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in Oltenia, with the capital city at Craiova.
Demographics
In 2011, ...
(1992–2004) and then Hunedoara County
Hunedoara County () is a county (''județ'') of Romania, in Transylvania, with its capital city at Deva, Romania, Deva. The county is part of the Danube–Criș–Mureș–Tisa Euroregion.
Name
In Hungarian language, Hungarian, it is known as , ...
(2004–2008), initially representing the Socialist Labour Party (PSM), and later the Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSD). He received the most votes in his district at the 2008 election, but failed to win a seat after the votes were redistributed pursuant to the MMP system used.
Death and legacy
At aged 67, Păunescu was hospitalized on 26 October 2010 in the intensive care unit of the Floreasca Emergency Hospital in Bucharest
Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...
, with problems of more vital organs caused by pulmonary edema. Păunescu had subsequent renal, liver, and heart failure. He was declared dead at 7:15 AM, on 5 November 2010. Survived by his wife and three children, Păunescu was posthumously thanked by Romania's president Traian Băsescu, who in saluting him mentioned only his contributions to art.[
In May 2012 a bronze bust of Păunescu, made by sculptors Ioan Deac-Bistrița and Dragoș Neagoe, was inaugurated at Grădina Icoanei, in central Bucharest.]
Books
* ''Ultrasentimente'' (1965)
* ''Mieii primi'' (1966)
* ''Fântâna somnambulă'' (1968)
* '' Cărțile poștale ale morții'' (1970)
* ''Aventurile extraordinare ale lui Hap și Pap'' (1970)
* ''Viața de excepții'' (1971)
* ''Sub semnul întrebării'' (1971)
* ''Istoria unei secunde'' (1971)
* ''Lumea ca lume'' (1973)
* ''Repetabila povară'' (1974)
* ''Pământul deocamdată'' (1976)
* ''Poezii de până azi'' (1978)
* ''Sub semnul întrebării'' (1979)
* ''Manifest pentru sănătatea pământului'' (1980)
* ''Iubiți-vă pe tunuri'' (1981)
* ''De la Bârca la Viena și înapoi'' (1981)
* ''Rezervația de zimbri'' (1982)
* ''Totuși iubirea'' (1983)
* ''Manifest pentru mileniul trei'' (1984)
* ''Manifest pentru mileniul trei'' (1986)
* ''Locuri comune'' (1986)
* ''Viața mea e un roman'' (1987)
* ''Într-adevăr'' (1988)
* ''Sunt un om liber'' (1989)
* ''Poezii cenzurate'' (1990)
* ''Romaniada'' (1993–1994)
* ''Bieți lampagii'' (1993–1994)
* ''Noaptea marii beții'' (1993–1994)
* ''Front fără învingători'' (1995)
* ''Infracțiunea de a fi'' (1996)
* ''Tragedia națională'' (1997)
* ''Deromânizarea României'' (1998)
* ''Cartea Cărților de Poezie'' (1999)
* ''Meserie mizarabilă, sufletul'' (2000)
* ''Măștile însîngerate'' (2001)
* ''Nemuritor la zidul morții'' (2001)
* ''Până la capăt'' (2002)
* ''Liber să sufăr'' (2003)
* ''Din doi în doi'' (2003)
* ''Eminamente'' (2003)
* ''Cartea Cărților de Poezie'' (2003)
* ''Logica avalanșei'' (2005)
* ''Antiprimăvara'' (2005)
* ''Ninsoarea de adio'' (2005)
* ''Un om pe niște scări'' (2006)
* ''De mamă și de foaie verde'' (2006)
* ''Copaci fără pădure'' (2006)
* ''Vagabonzi pe plaiul mioritic'' (2007)
* ''Rugă pentru părinți'' (2007)
* ''Încă viu'' (2008)
* ''Libertatea de unică folosință'' (2009)
Presence in English language anthologies
* ''Testament - 400 Years of Romanian Poetry - 400 de ani de poezie românească'' - bilingual edition - Daniel Ioniță (editor and principal translator) with Daniel Reynaud, Adriana Paul & Eva Foster - Editura Minerva, 2019 -
* ''Romanian Poetry from its Origins to the Present'' - bilingual edition English/Romanian - Daniel Ioniță (editor and principal translator) with Daniel Reynaud, Adriana Paul, and Eva Foster - Australian-Romanian Academy Publishing - 2020 - ;
* ''Testament – Anthology of Romanian Verse – American Edition -'' monolingual English edition ''-'' Daniel Ioniță (editor and translator), with Eva Foster, Daniel Reynaud, and Rochelle Bews – Australian-Romanian Academy for Culture – 2017 –
* ''The Bessarabia of my Soul / Basarabia Sufletului meu – a collection of poetry from the Republic of Moldova -'' bilingual English & Romanian ''-'' Daniel Ioniță and Maria Tonu (editors), with Eva Foster, Daniel Reynaud, and Rochelle Bews – MediaTon – Toronto -Canada – 2018 –
Electoral history
Presidential elections
References
External links
;Official links
Păunescu
at AdrianPaunescu.ro (official website)
Păunescu
at Blogspot (official blog)
;Writings
Adrian Păunescu – Poetry
* at '' Cotidianul''
;Music
*
;Other
* evoked by Constantin Pîrvulescu
2013 Postage stamp issued by the Republic of Moldova
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paunescu, Adrian
1943 births
2010 deaths
People from Sîngerei District
Romanian magazine editors
Romanian magazine founders
Romanian newspaper editors
Romanian newspaper founders
Romanian male poets
Romanian male essayists
20th-century Romanian poets
20th-century Romanian essayists
Carol I National College alumni
Saint Sava National College alumni
University of Bucharest alumni
International Writing Program alumni
Romanian Communist Party politicians
Social Democratic Party (Romania) politicians
Romanian nationalists
Romanian people of Moldovan descent
Candidates for President of Romania
Members of the Senate of Romania
Eastern Orthodox socialists
Deaths from multiple organ failure
Burials at Bellu Cemetery