Anthony Bonner, the great scholar of Ramon Llull, dies at 97

PalmAnthony Bonner, one of the world's leading scholars of Ramon Llull, has died in Palma at the age of 97. Born in New York in 1928, he became a key figure in the cultural, ecological, and academic life of the Balearic Islands after arriving on the island in 1954. His life was defined by the study of Ramon Llull's life and work, and he is considered one of the world's foremost specialists on Llull's oeuvre. His research brought about a profound renewal of Lullian scholarship, primarily because it combined rigorous philological analysis with a meticulously crafted philosophical and scientific approach. Bonner dedicated decades to editing texts, reconstructing original versions, and establishing reliable criteria for understanding the evolution of Llull's thought. One of his most outstanding contributions is... Doctor IlluminatusThis work contextualizes Llull within the medieval tradition and clearly explains his desire to unify knowledge, faith, and reason through art. Furthermore, Bonner played a fundamental role in the institutionalization of Lullian studies, both from the University of Barcelona and through his participation in the critical edition of the Complete Works of Ramon Llull Promoted by the Majorcan Studies Society, her work helped to dispel common misconceptions and offer a more nuanced and modern image of Llull, showing him not only as a mystic or missionary, but as an innovative thinker interested in logic, mathematics, and science. Thanks to Bonner, Llull's work is now much more accessible and understandable for students and researchers worldwide.

Literary and cultural heritage

Throughout his extensive career, Bonner studied Music Theory and Composition at Harvard University and the Paris Conservatory, and later dedicated himself to the research and dissemination of Balearic literary and cultural heritage, with a particular interest in the figure of Ramon Llull. He also devoted considerable effort to environmental protection: in 1973 he was one of the founders of GOB (Balearic Ornithological Group), serving as its president from 1980 to 1997. His contributions were not limited to the world of environmentalism and culture. Bonner amassed significant documentation on the work of Ramon Llull—microfilms of manuscripts, archives, and documents—which he donated to academic institutions to contribute to the research and study of Catalan language and culture. He also promoted music in Mallorca: in 1977 he founded the Camerata Barroca de Puigpunyent, a musical group that helped to disseminate the archipelago's musical and historical heritage. Bonner was recognized with numerous awards throughout his life: among others, he received the Ramon Llull Prize, the Creu de Sant Jordi, the Gold Medal of the Consell de Mallorca, and honorary doctorates from various universities. His passing leaves a void in the cultural, ecological, and intellectual life of Mallorca—an island he loved and defended until the very end.