Don Pedro Calderón

This book was the first scholarly biography of Spain's most important early modern dramatist to be published in English.

Don W. Cruickshank (Author)

9780521765152, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 29 October 2009

494 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.9 cm, 0.97 kg

'This book will be a must-read for students and scholars of early modern Spanish theatre and literature, and for early modern scholars in general. It is a superb work of scholarship, one that I cannot praise too highly.' Edward H. Friedman, Vanderbilt University

Don Pedro Calderón de la Barca (1600–81) is Spain's most important early modern dramatist. His varied career as a playwright, courtier, soldier and priest placed him at the heart of Spanish culture, and he reflected on contemporary events in his plays, most famously La vida es sueño (Life is a Dream). In this scholarly biography of Calderón in English, Don Cruickshank uses his command of the archival sources and his unparalleled understanding of Calderón's work to chart his life and his political, literary and religious contexts. In addition, the book includes much fresh research into Calderón's writings and their attributions. This elegant, erudite work will bring Calderón to a new audience both within and beyond Spanish studies. With illustrations, extensive notes and a detailed index, this is the most comprehensive English-language book on Calderón, and it will long remain the key work of reference on this important author.

Preface
Illustrations
Abbreviations
Note on measurements, currency, translations and dates
1. The birthplace: Madrid in 1600
2. The family background
3. Childhood and early adolescence
4. A turning-point
5. A talent discovered by accident
6. Letters, not arms
7. Blasphemy, sacrilege and lèse-majesté
8. Lessons for controlling personalities
9. Only poetry, not precious stones
10. Taking over from Lope
11. Knight of Santiago
12. Discordant voices
13. The storm gathers
14. War and disillusionment
15. A time to mourn
16. Beginning to recover
Epilogue: the glories of the world
Appendix: Calderón's dramatic works
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB], Literature: history & criticism [DS], Literature & literary studies [D]