- José de Espronceda
José de Espronceda, baptised José Ignacio Javier Oriol Encarnación de Espronceda y Delgado (
March 25 ,1808 -May 23 ,1842 ) was among the most important Spanish romanticist poets of the 19th century.Life
Espronceda was born in
Almendralejo ,Spain . As a youth he formed a secret society, conspiring againstFerdinand VII and intending to avenge the death ofRafael del Riego y Nuñez . For this, he was imprisoned in a monastery. Afterward, he left Spain and lived inLisbon ,Belgium ,France ,England , andHolland . On his return to Spain in 1833, he became active in the extreme left-wing of Spanish political culture. Espronceda is also known for his affair withTeresa Mancha , for whom he wrote "Canto a Teresa" (from "El diablo mundo".)Literary Production
Having been inspired to a literary career by his teacher Alberto Lista, Espronceda began to write the historical poem "El Pelayo" during his stay in the monastery. The poem was never completed. Later he wrote the novel "Sancho Saldaña". His other important works include "
El estudiante de Salamanca " and "El diablo mundo ", long lyric poems that were also unfinished. Also important were "A Jarifa en una orgía", "El verdugo", "Canción del cosaco", "La canción del pirata", and "Himno al sol". Many of his works display the tendencies ofRomanticism , and along withJosé Zorilla he is considered Spain's most important Romantic poet, as well as the most rebellious.
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