Edwin Honig (1919-2011), a translator of Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, died May 25, at his home in Providence, RI, of Alzheimer’s disease.

A poet, critic, playwright and translator, he taught at Brown University for over 25 years before retiring in 1983.

He wrote 10 books of poetry, 3 plays, 5 books of criticism and 8 translations one of the earliest of which was on Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca.

His latest translation collection of Fernando Pessoa’s poetry titled “Poems of Fernando Pessoa,” was published in 2001.

Honig also translated many plays, including those of the 17th-century Spaniard Pedro Calderon de la Barca and those of his 16th-century countryman Miguel de Cervantes.

Professor Edwin Honig first became acquainted with Fernando Pessoa’s poetry in Praia da Rocha, Algarve, where he heard Fernando Pessoa’s poems recited by a local fisherman.

He was knighted by the Spanish and Portuguese governments for his lifelong dedication to their national literatures.

“Poem in a Straight Line” by Álvaro de Campos (Fernando Pessoa)

Translated By Edwin Honig and Susan Brown

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVSukF0E0YI[/youtube]