Barrio de las Letras in Madrid, Spain — Southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula)
José Zorrilla y Moral
(Valladolid, 1817 - Madrid, 1893)
Poeta y dramaturgo, tras residir con su familia en Valladolid, Burgos y Sevilla, se establece en Madrid, donde el joven Zorrilla ingresa en el Real Seminario de Nobles. Tras cursar dos años de Leyes en Toledo y Valladolid, abandona los estudios y el domicilio familiar para regresar a Madrid donde se dedica por entero a la literatura. Habitó en una casa de la Plaza de Matute. Los versos que leyó en el entierro de Larra, en 1897, le consagraron como poeta y le granjearon la amistad de Ventura de la Vega, Hartzenbusch, Donoso Cortés y su admirado Espronceda. Fue redactor del periódico "El Español” en el que publicó la serie de poemas titulada Poesía. Tras viajar por Francia e Inglaterra, se marchó a México, país en el que gracias a su inmensa fama, fue nombrado lector áulico y director del Teatro Nacional por el emperador Maximiliano. De regreso a España, tomó posesión de su sillón en la Real Academia y fue coronado poeta nacional en el Alcázar de Granada. A pesar de su gran éxito como poeta y dramaturgo, vivió sus últimos años asediado por las dificultades economicas.
Su obra de mayor éxito, Don Juan Tenorio, recreación romántica del mito de Don Juan, no puede dejar en el olvido su obra dramática. El zapatero y el rey, El puñal del godo, La mejor razón la espada, Traidor, inconfeso y mártir y Sancho García entre otras ni su producción en verso, ya sea poesía lirica -Poesías- o narrativa, con sus leyendas - Cantos del trovador, A buen juez mejor testigo, La leyenda del Cid y Granada.
(English translation:)
Poet and playwright, after residing with his family in Valladolid, Burgos and Seville, the young Zorrilla settled in Madrid, where he entered the Royal Seminary of Nobles. After completing two years of Law in Toledo and Valladolid, he abandoned his studies and the family home to return to Madrid where he devoted himself entirely to literature. He lived in a house on the Plaza de Matute. The verses that he read at Larra's funeral, in 1897, consecrated him as a poet and earned him the friendship of Ventura de la Vega, Hartzenbusch, Donoso Cortés, and Espronceda, whom he admired. He was editor of the newspaper "El Español" in which he published the series of poems entitled Poesía. After traveling through France and England, he went to Mexico, a country in which, thanks to his immense fame, he was appointed court reader and director of the National Theater by Emperor Maximilian. On his return to Spain, he took possession of his chair at the Royal Academy and was crowned national poet in the Alcázar of Granada. Despite his great success as a poet and playwright, he lived the last years of his life beset by economic hardships.
His most successful work, Don Juan Tenorio, a romantic recreation of the myth of Don Juan, will ensure that his dramatic work will remain unforgotten, as do also other dramatic productions such as El zapatero y el rey, El puñal del godo, La mejor razón la espada, Traidor, inconfeso y mártir y Sancho García, among others, as will also his production in verse, whether lyrical poetry, -Poesías-, or narrative, with its leyendas - Cantos del trovador, A buen juez mejor testigo, La leyenda del Cid y Granada.
Erected by Comunidad de Madrid, Ajuntamiento de Madrid.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1817.
Location. 40° 24.831′ N, 3° 41.982′ W. Marker is in Madrid. It is in Barrio de las Letras. Marker is at the intersection of Calle de las Huertas and Plaza de Matute, on the left when traveling east on Calle de las Huertas. Touch for map . Marker is at or near this postal address: Calle de las Huertas 17, Madrid 28012, Spain. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rosalía del Castro (a few steps from this marker); Dominguín (within shouting distance of this marker); Miguel de Cervantes (within shouting distance of this marker); Palacio de Los Duques de Santoña (within shouting distance of this marker); María de Zayas Sotomayor (within shouting distance of this marker); Marcelino Menendez y Pelayo (within shouting distance of this marker); Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (within shouting distance of this marker); Juan Pedro Arnal (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madrid.
Also see . . . José Zorrilla (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: "José Zorrilla y Moral was a Spanish poet and dramatist, who became National Laureate."(Submitted on June 7, 2022.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 99 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.