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Benito Pérez Galdós
14quotes
Benito Pérez Galdós: A Life of Literature and Social Commentary
Full Name and Common Aliases
Benito Francisco Xavier Isidro de la Santísima Trinidad Martín-Racina y Álvarez Pérez Galdós was a Spanish novelist, playwright, and journalist. He is commonly known as Benito Pérez Galdós.
Birth and Death Dates
Pérez Galdós was born on May 10, 1843, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. He passed away on January 4, 1920, at the age of 76.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Spanish. Pérez Galdós was a novelist, playwright, and journalist by profession. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Spanish novelists of all time.
Early Life and Background
Pérez Galdós was born into a family of moderate means in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. His father was a lawyer, but the family struggled financially due to his father's failing health. Pérez Galdós's early life was marked by poverty, which would later influence his writing. He was largely self-educated and developed a passion for literature at an early age.
Major Accomplishments
Pérez Galdós is best known for his novels of Spanish history, particularly the Episodios Nacionales series, which consists of 46 volumes. This series chronicles significant events in Spanish history from the Napoleonic Wars to the Spanish Civil War. His most famous work, however, is the novel Fortunata y Jacinta, a sweeping epic that explores themes of love, family, and social class.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his novels, Pérez Galdós was also a prolific playwright. He wrote over 20 plays during his lifetime, many of which were performed in Madrid's theaters. His most notable play is Electra, an adaptation of Sophocles' classic tragedy. As a journalist, Pérez Galdós was a vocal advocate for democracy and social reform. He wrote numerous articles and editorials criticizing the Spanish monarchy and advocating for greater freedom and equality.
Impact and Legacy
Pérez Galdós's impact on Spanish literature is immense. His novels of Spanish history helped to shape the country's national identity and provided a platform for exploring complex themes such as love, family, and social class. His commitment to democracy and social reform inspired generations of Spaniards to fight for greater freedom and equality.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Pérez Galdós is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful commentary on Spanish history and society. His writing continues to resonate with readers today, offering a nuanced understanding of the country's complex past and its ongoing struggles with social inequality. His legacy extends beyond literature; he remains an important figure in Spanish intellectual history, symbolizing the nation's ongoing quest for democracy and social justice.
Pérez Galdós's life was marked by poverty, struggle, and a deep commitment to his craft. Through his writing, he gave voice to the marginalized and silenced, providing a powerful commentary on Spanish society during some of its most tumultuous periods. His legacy continues to inspire readers today, reminding us of the importance of literature in shaping our understanding of ourselves and our world.
Quotes by Benito Pérez Galdós
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I believe that if I should die, and you were to walk near my grave, from the very depths of the earth I would hear your footsteps.
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—Antes me formaba yo idea del día y de la noche. ¿Cómo? Verás: era de día, cuando hablaba la gente; era de noche, cuando la gente callaba y cantaban los gallos. Ahora no hago las mismas comparaciones. Es de día, cuando estamos juntos tú y yo; es de noche, cuando nos separamos.—¡Ay, divina Madre de Dios!— exclamó la Nela, echándose atrás las guedejas que le caían sobre la frente. —A mí, que tengo ojos, me parece lo mismo.
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...ni al mar irritado, ni a los monstruos acuáticos, ni a la ruidosa tempestad, ni al cielo, ni a la tierra; no tenía miedo a cosa alguna creada por Dios más que a su bendita mujer.
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—¿Qué sientes tú cuando estás alegre?—¿Cuándo estoy libre, contigo, solos los dos en el campo?—Sí.—Pues siento que me nace dentro del pecho una frescura, una suavidaddulce...—¡Ahí te quiero ver! ¡Madre de Dios! Pues ya sabes cómo brilla el sol.
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¿Zaragoza se rendirá? La muerte al que esto diga.Zaragoza no se rinde. La reducirán a polvo: de sus históricas casas no quedará ladrillo sobre ladrillo; caerán sus cien templos; su suelo abriráse vomitando llamas; y lanzados al aire los cimientos, caerán las tejas al fondo de los pozos; pero entre los escombros y entre los muertos habrá siempre una lengua viva para decir que Zaragoza no se rinde.
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Todo el barrio se mueve; pero calla a la vez. Mil emociones se chocan; mil dolores son ahogados; mil lazos de amor y familia se quiebran; mil almas vuelan; pero todo esto se verifica en silencio, en medio de un movimiento automático y vertiginoso. Todo el barrio se mueve; pero calla a la vez. Sólo un ser (¡fatal excepción!) descansa y ronca en esta noche de muerte: es la partera. En tales noches no nace nadie.
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Another circumstance of note was the fact that they never spoke about the past: that particular novel, they both seemed to agree, was over and done with, doubtless because it seemed so improbable and false, rather like the books we were mad about in our youth and which, in our maturity, seem somewhat paltry.
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The passion of the collector when confronted with a rare item, the enthusiasm of a hunter who sees a fine, handsome beast, can give us no idea of the tremendous love of clothes in some women.
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