Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo

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Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo, detail of an oil painting by José Moreno Carbonero; in the Royal Academy of History, Madrid.

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Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo

Spanish critic

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Oct 30, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

Born:: Nov. 3, 1856, Santander, Spain

Died:: May 19, 1912, Santander (aged 55)

Subjects Of Study:: Spanish literature

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Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo (born Nov. 3, 1856, Santander, Spain—died May 19, 1912, Santander) was a Spanish literary critic and historian, remarkable for his vast erudition and his elegant and flexible prose. Although some of his judgments are no longer accepted, his studies of medieval, Renaissance, and Golden Age Spanish literature are still invaluable. The range and profundity of his knowledge enabled him to make valuable assessments of the Hispanic contribution to Western literature. He was professor of Spanish literature at Madrid (1878–98) and director of the Biblioteca Nacional (1898–1912); his private library (of 45,000 volumes), which he bequeathed to ...(100 of 119 words)

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