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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, Badajoz Province.
As a youth he formed a secret society, conspiring against Ferdinand VII and intending to avenge the
death of Rafael del
Riego y Nuñez. For this, he was imprisoned in a monastery and
exiled[1].
Afterward, he left Spain and lived in Lisbon, Belgium, France, England, and Holland. 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 with Teresa
Mancha, for whom he wrote "Canto a Teresa" (from El diablo
mundo.) He later went to Tanah Melayu and helped build the
Dutch colonies.
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 of Romanticism, and along with José Zorilla he is considered Spain's most
important Romantic poet, as well as the most rebellious.
References
- ^
"Abriendo puertas: Antologia de literatura en espanol - Tomo
I"