Francisco de Quevedo
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Fancisco de Quevedo y Villegas
Francisco Gómez de Quevedo y Villegas (born September 17, 1580 - September 8, 1645) was a Spanish writer during the siglo de oro. The son of noble parents, he was born in Madrid and his poetry appeared in an anthology by Pedro Espinoza, Flores de poetas ilustres ("Flowers by Illustrious Poets") (1605); however, his complete works were not published until after his death. Written in the style of the Baroque period, Espinoza's anthology discussed the problems with Quevedo's metaphysical and love poems, and the mocking nature of his sonnets.
Quevedo is the master of Conceptism: the use of double-meaning to show esprit.
Quevedo was a major player in the literary world of Madrid. He was strongly opposed to Culteranism (concealing the meaning with Latinate expressions and syntax and obscure mythological allusions). Quevedo viciously attacked Luis de Góngora in writing and in real life. Góngora was accused of being a Converso and a homosexual.
During great part of his life he struggled in court to acquire a royal concession. Finally he was declared lord of Torre de Juan Abad, with the associate rent.
Quevedo was lame and wore spectacles on his nose (to this day named quevedos in Spanish). That didn't stop him from being an accomplished swordsman, ready to duel for matters of honor, literature or politics.
As a prose-writer Quevedo wrote with a great critical capacity and pessimism, as was customary in writings of the time.
- Picaresque novel: Historia de la vida del Buscón llamado don Pablos (The Life Story of a Searcher Called Don Pablos) (1626)
- Aesthetic work: Los sueños (Dreams) (1627), La cuna y la sepultura (The Crib and the Grave) (1635)
- Mocking work: La cuna latiniparla (The Latin-speaking Crib) (1631)
- Against Luis de Góngora and Culturism: Aguja de navegar cultos (Cultured-sailing Needle)
- Political works: Política de Dios, gobierno de Cristo (God's politics, Christ's government) (1626), Vida de Marco Bruto (The Life of Marcus Brutus) (1632-1644)
Francisco de Quevedo appears as a character in the series of novels about Captain Alatriste, by Spanish author Arturo Pérez-Reverte. In the upcoming movie, Quevedo will be played by Juan Echanove.
The Madrid metro station Quevedo is named after him.
See also
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