Tomás Blanco (December 9, 1896 – April 12, 1975) was a Puerto Rican writer, poet, narrator, historian, author and physician. Blanco was a writer during the 1930s who was known for his critical essays that analyzed the Puerto Rican culture. Similar to other authors of his generation that lived through the Great Depression, his work focused on political and social issues. He also wrote novels, short stories and poetry. Early years Blanco (birth name: Tomás Blanco Geigel) was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education in Catholic schools. After graduating from high school, he went to the United States and enrolled in the Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. to study medicine. Tomás Blanco first pursued the path of pharmaceutical work but progressively began to focus his attention on literature. Blanco traveled throughout Europe and in Spain where he developed his love for writing. Blanco wrote about literature, plus he was also a music critic. Written works Blanco returned to Puerto Rico where he dedicated himself to write about Puerto Rican topics. His works are considered very important in the analysis of the "state" of the Puerto Rican culture in both the 19th century and 20th century. Among Blanco's most recognized works are Prontuario Histórico de Puerto Rico and El Prejuicio Racial en Puerto Rico (Racial Prejudice in Puerto Rico). He also wrote many novels and stories such as Los Aguinaldos del Infante (Christmas Stories for Children) and Cuentos Sin Ton Ni Son. He was also the songwriter of the lyrics Tres estrofas de amor: Canción para soprano composed in 1925 by Pablo Casals. Tomás Blanco died on April 12, 1975 in the city of San Juan. Essays In 1935, he published his first literary piece Prontuario Histórico de Puerto Rico which showcases the cultural aspects of the Puerto Rican people and racial dynamics within the country. In the essay he recounts significant events of the history of Puerto Rico, in hope of finding the country's national idiosyncrasy and cultural identity. The mixing of races and religions created a unique combination of ideas and culture, which sometimes sparked conflict. Tomas Blanco's thoughts on these racial relationships and controversies are presented in, The Racial Prejudice in Puerto Rico. The essay discusses the influence of the slave trade and the discrimination of people of African descent in Puerto Rico. Tomas Blanco speaks of the