Gonzalo de Céspedes y Meneses

He was born at Madrid about 1585. Nothing positive is known of him before the publication of his celebrated romance, the Poema trágico del español Gerardo, y desengaño del amor lascivo (1615-1617).[1] There is evidence that he had been sentenced to eight years at the galleys previous to January 1, 1620, and that the penalty had been remitted; but the nature of his offense is not stated. His treatment of political questions in the Historia apologética en los sucesos del reyno de Aragon, y su ciudad de Zaragoza, años de 91 y 92 (1622), has led to the confiscation of the book, Céspedes took up his residence at Zaragoza and Lisbon.[2]

While in exile he issued a collection of six short stories entitled Historias peregrinas y exemplares (1623), the unfinished romance Varia fortuna del soldado Píndaro (1626), and the first part of his Historia de Felipe IV. (1631), a fulsome eulogy which was rewarded by the author's appointment as official historiographer to the Spanish king.[2]

His novels, though written in a ponderous, affected style, display considerable imagination and insight into character. The Poema trágico has been utilized by John Fletcher in The Spanish Curate and in The Maid of the Mill.[2]

The Historias peregrinas has been reprinted (1906) with a valuable introduction by Emilio Cotarelo y Mori.[2]

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Céspedes y Meneses, Gonzalo de". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 768.