Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Despite the impact of terrorism upon
their society the Basque have sustained a
prosperous economy with its industrial base
in the area around B
ILBAO
. They have also
safeguarded their love of liberty, individual-
ism, and (even though Franco banned
Basque-language publications) a distinct lit-
erary tradition. Cheerful, energetic, and for
the most part opposed to extremism, the
Basque still hope to preserve their special
place in Europe despite the currents of uni-
fication moving across the continent.
guaranteed him a posthumous reputation
that has grown with time. Bécquer's major
poetical works are included in the 80 or so
lyrics of
Rimas
(
Rhymes
). Continuing themes
in
Rimas
include his striving to achieve pure
poetry of form and image and his frustra-
tion over the inability to attain perfect love.
The prose writings contained in
Leyendas
(
Legends
) are set in a world of golden moon-
light, vine-covered castles, and vague loca-
tions in which tragic figures pursue their
dreamlike destinies.
Bécquer is now regarded as one of Spain's
finest poets, whose evocations of poignant
longing represent a lyric romanticism that
some critics find to be, in fact, a new depar-
ture in poetry. Many 20th-century writers
have proclaimed their admiration of him
and acknowledge him as their inspiration.
Bécquer, Gustavo Adolfo (Gustavo
Adolfo Domínguez Bastida)
(1836-1870)
Spanish poet
Born in S
EVILLE
and orphaned at an early
age, Bécquer, who later adopted an old
family name by which he is known, aban-
doned an unpromising apprenticeship in
art to seek a literary career in M
ADRID
. In
the capital he acquired a wife and several
children but earned only a precarious living
and a reputation as a poet that was limited
to publication in newspapers. In retrospect
Bécquer would be seen as the most tragic,
as well as the last, of the romantic school.
Unlike J
OSÉ
DE
E
SPRONCEDA
who was full of
activity and bravado, Bécquer was thwarted
by domestic unhappiness, a failed love
affair, and deteriorating health. Some of his
most admired work was produced during a
prolonged residence in a monastery during
the 1860s where he evidently found the
tranquillity and relief from the consump-
tion that haunted him. His poems and sto-
ries were collected and published in book
form only after his early death through a
subscription raised by friends and admirers
who had not been able to save his life but
Belalcázar, Sebastián de
(1479-1551)
Spanish explorer and conqueror
An early participant in the conquest of the
New World, Belalcázar accompanied C
HRIS
-
TOPHER
C
OLUMBUS
on his third voyage
(1498) and participated in the occupation
of Darien and N
ICARAGUA
. He then took
part in the conquest of P
ERU
under F
RAN
-
CISCO
P
IZARRO
(1532) and established con-
trol over present-day E
CUADOR
by capturing
Quito and founding Guayaquil. He subse-
quently marched into the southwestern
part of what is now C
OLOMBIA
, where he
founded the city of Cali in the course of
searching for the fabulous El Dorado. After-
ward he became embroiled in a three-sided
dispute with rival conquistadores G
ONZALO
J
IMÉNEZ
DE
Q
UESADA
and N
IKOLAUS
F
EDER
-
MANN
, an argument that was not resolved
until all three had returned to Spain to set-
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