Joan Alcover (1854 - 1926) was born in Palma de Mallorca. He is a seminal figure in Catalan literature and Mallorca’s most celebrated poet. His poem 'La Balanguera' was set to music in 1926 and in 1996 it became the official anthem of Mallorca.

Alcover practised as a lawyer but his main interest was poetry. His house in Palma became the centre of a lively group of local artists and writers, as well as visitors from Barcelona, including the painter Santiago Rusiñol and the writer Josep Carner, both key figures in contemporary Catalan culture. He broke new ground by writing poetry in Mallorquí, a variant of Catalan, at a time when most published work was written in Spanish. He was also the first critically acclaimed poet to celebrate rural life on the island.

Tragedy struck Alcover with the death of his wife Rosa and four of their five children from disease. His grief and despair were channelled into poems that have become widely admired, including 'The Relic' and ‘Desolation’.

Alcover’s poetry celebrates nature and the simplicity of life he found in Mallorca’s countryside. It also explores grief and sadness with great sensitivity.

Balanguera, translated by Paul O'Prey, was published to celebrate the centenary of his death.