author
Luis Vélez de Guevara
1579–1644
A lively voice from Spain’s Golden Age, this playwright and novelist is best remembered for sharp wit, vivid characters, and a satirical imagination that still feels fresh. His best-known book, El diablo cojuelo, helped secure his place as one of the memorable comic talents of the Baroque era.
1 Audiobook
El Diablo Cojuelo
by Luis Vélez de Guevara
About the author
Born in Écija in 1579, Luis Vélez de Guevara became a Spanish dramatist, poet, and novelist during the height of the Siglo de Oro. Reliable reference sources describe him as an important follower of Lope de Vega, admired for his gift for characterization and for the energy of his writing.
He studied at the University of Osuna and went on to serve in noble and ecclesiastical households, building a literary career that produced a large number of plays. Although much of his reputation in his own time rested on the stage, he is especially remembered today for El diablo cojuelo (1641), a satirical fantasy that later became widely known through a French adaptation.
Vélez de Guevara died in Madrid in 1644. His work stands out for its mix of theatrical flair, humor, and sharp observation, making him a lasting figure in Spanish Baroque literature.