Manuel José Quintana

Portrait of Manuel José Quintana in his youth years.

Manuel José Quintana y Lorenzo (April 11, 1772 - March 11, 1857), poet, was born at Madrid, Spain.

Writings

In 1801 Quintana wrote a tragedy, El Duque de Viseo, written about a patriotic theme. which was successful.

Life

The first book of his Vidas de Españoles célebres, about the lives of Spanish heroes, helped to promote Quintana the post of secretary to the Cortes during the French invasion. But on the return of Ferdinand VII he was put in prison at Pamplona from 1814 to 1820. He was finally given a small post in the civil service, became tutor to Queen Isabella II, and was nominated senator.

Death

Quintana died at the age of 84. Philanthropy and patriotism helped him write. The thought he put into his poems is not deep, but his faith to Spain attracted people to read them.

References

• Albert Dérozier: "Les étapes de la vie officielle de Manuel Josef Quintana". Bulletin Hispanique 66 (1964): 363-383
• Albert Dérozier: Manuel Josef Quintana et la naissance du libéralisme en Espagne. 2 vols. Paris: Les belles Lettres, 1968-70. Annales littéraires de l'Université de Besançon, 95, 105.
• Albert Dérozier: Manuel José Quintana y el nacimiento del liberalismo en España / Albert Dérozier. Trad.: Manuel Moya. Madrid: Turner, 1978.
• Diego Martínez Torrón: Manuel José Quintana y el espíritu de la España liberal (con textos desconocidos). Sevilla: Ed. Alfar, 1995. ISBN 84-7898-106-3.
• E. Mérimée: "Les poésies liriques de Quintana." Bulletin Hispanique 4 (1902): 119-153.
• José A. Valero: "Manuel José Quintana y el sublime moral." Hispanic Review 71 (2003): 585-611