Alonso de Castillo Solórzano

Born in Tordesillas in 1584, Alonso de Castillo Solórzano was a Spanish writer of the Siglo de Oro, the rich literary period often called Spain’s Golden Age. He built his reputation through novels, short fiction, and plays, and is especially associated with picaresque writing—stories centered on clever schemers, social satire, and the rough edges of everyday life.

He wrote prolifically, with well-known works including La niña de los embustes, Teresa de Manzanares, La garduña de Sevilla y anzuelo de las bolsas, and Aventuras del bachiller Trapaza. His fiction often moves through inns, streets, and courtly settings, capturing both comedy and deception with an eye for vivid detail.

Castillo Solórzano died in 1647. Although he is not as widely known today as some of his contemporaries, he remains an important figure for readers interested in Spanish Baroque literature and in the development of the picaresque tradition.