José Zorrilla

Born in Valladolid on February 21, 1817, José Zorrilla y Moral became one of the best-known voices of Spanish Romanticism. He first drew wide attention in the 1830s, and over the course of his career he built a reputation as both a poet and a playwright with a strong feel for drama, atmosphere, and national legend.

His best-known work is Don Juan Tenorio (1844), a version of the Don Juan tale that became a classic of the Spanish stage. He also wrote poems and dramatic works inspired by history, religion, and popular tradition, giving his writing a rich, emotional style that connected strongly with audiences.

Zorrilla spent part of his life outside Spain, including years in Mexico, and remained an admired literary figure into old age. He died in Madrid on January 23, 1893, leaving behind a body of work that still stands as a central part of 19th-century Spanish literature.