Miguel de Unamuno

Miguel de Unamuno was a Spanish writer and philosopher who combined a sensuous use of language with bitter social satire. He was born in Bilbao, a port city of the Basque Country, Spain, on September 29, 1866, to a family of impoverished aristocrats. He studied law at the University of Madrid, but abandoned his studies and moved to Madrid in 1890, where he worked as a journalist and critic. He also traveled to Mexico, where he wrote for several newspapers. Unamuno was a prominent figure in the Spanish Modernist movement, which sought to break away from the realism and naturalism of the 19th century and explore new forms of expression. He wrote novels, plays, and short stories that experimented with different genres and styles, such as symbolism, expressionism, grotesque comedy, and historical fiction. He also created his own literary genre, the esperpento, which distorted reality to expose its absurdity and ugliness. Some of his most famous works are Sonatas (1902-1905), a series of four novels that depict the decadent life of a nobleman; Tirano Banderas (1926), a novel that satirizes Latin American dictatorships; Luces de bohemia (1924), a play that portrays the marginalization and misery of the bohemian artists in Madrid; and El ruedo ibérico (1927-1936), an unfinished cycle of historical novels that criticizes the Spanish monarchy and society. Unamuno was also known for his eccentric personality and appearance. He wore a long beard, a monocle, and a cape. He lost his left arm in a fight in 1899 and replaced it with a metal prosthesis. He was involved in several literary disputes with other writers, such as Miguel de Unamuno and Azorín. He was also politically active and supported the Republican cause during the Spanish Civil War. He died of inhalation of gases from a brazier on December 31, 1936, in Santiago de Compostela. He is regarded as one of the most influential and original writers of Spanish literature.