Don Juan Tenorio

José Zorrilla y Moral, born in Valladolid, Spain, was a renowned Spanish poet and dramatist, later recognized as a National Laureate. His father was a magistrate under Ferdinand VII. Educated by Jesuits at the Real Seminario de Nobles in Madrid, Zorrilla wrote verses from age twelve and was influenced by Walter Scott and Chateaubriand. He actively participated at school in plays by Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca.

In 1833, Zorrilla enrolled in law at the University of Toledo but abandoned his studies after a year. Moving to Madrid, he clashed with his father’s absolutist friends by delivering radical speeches and starting a short-lived newspaper. He narrowly avoided exile to the Philippines, and experienced several years of poverty as a result of these conflicts.

Zorrilla’s career in literature began following the death of satirist Mariano José de Larra in 1837. His elegiac poem at Larra’s funeral earned him recognition amongst literary circles. That same year, he published a volume of verses influenced by Alphonse de Lamartine and Victor Hugo, followed by six more volumes within three years.

He wrote his first independent play, “Cada cual con su razón,” in 1840 after collaborating with Antonio García Gutiérrez on “Juán Dondolo” in 1839. Over the next five years, Zorrilla wrote 22 plays, many achieving great success. His 1841 collection “Cantos del trovador” only enhanced his popularity.

Zorrilla often adapted older plays for his dramas, with national legends being a frequent theme. Notable works include adaptations such as “El Zapatero y el Rey” and original plays such as “Sancho García.” His most famous play, “Don Juan Tenorio,” combines elements from Tirso de Molina and Alexandre Dumas Père. He considered “Traidor, inconfeso y mártir” (1845) his best play.

Following his mother’s death in 1847, Zorrilla left Spain, living in Bordeaux and Paris, where his poem “Granada” was published in 1852. He moved to America in 1855, returning to Spain in 1866 to find his work forgotten and his style viewed as outdated.

Zorrilla subsequently struggled financially, especially in the period 1871 to 1883. The publication of his autobiography, “Recuerdos del tiempo viejo,” in 1880 did little to alleviate his poverty. Although his plays were still performed, he received no royalties.

In his later years, a critical re-evaluation of his work brought renewed fame. He was awarded a pension, a gold medal from the Spanish Academy, and the title of National Laureate in 1889. Zorrilla died in Madrid on 23 January 1893.

More by this author