Juana la Loca serves as the central figure in The Madness of Love, the 1855 production that secured Manuel Tamayo y Baus his status as a premier Spanish playwright. His career spanned the mid-to-late nineteenth century, encompassing work as a dramatist, librarian, and permanent secretary of the Royal Spanish Academy in Madrid.
Early Influences and Theatrical Beginnings
Born in Madrid in 1829, Tamayo y Baus entered a life closely tied to the stage through his mother, the actress Joaquina Baus. He gained early exposure to the craft, producing a theatrical arrangement while still a youth. His early professional efforts often involved adapting foreign works, such as an 1847 version of Juana de Arco based on Schiller and a piece inspired by Alexandre Dumas, père. During this formative period, his career was facilitated by his uncle, Antonio Gil y Zárate, who helped secure him a government position.
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The year 1853 marked a significant breakthrough with the performance of Virginia, a drama noted for its refined language. He later collaborated with Aureliano Fernández-Guerra y Orbe on the historical drama La Ricahembra. Throughout the 1850s and 1860s, he produced works including Hija y Madre and La Bola de Nieve. In 1863, he debuted Lances de Honor, a prose piece addressing the morality of duelling that prompted public debate. He is perhaps best remembered for his 1867 work, Un Drama nuevo, which features both Shakespeare and Yorick.
Administrative Career and Final Years
In addition to his literary pursuits, Tamayo y Baus held multiple professional roles within Spanish academic and state institutions. He was elected a member of the Royal Spanish Academy in 1859, serving as its permanent secretary for many years. Following the revolution of 1868, he faced professional instability, but in 1884, he was appointed director of the National Library by Alejandro Pidal y Mon. He served in this capacity until his death in 1898, after which he was interred at San Justo Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1829, Madrid
- Died: 1898, Madrid
- Education: Instituto San Isidro
- Primary Field: Playwriting
- Member: Royal Spanish Academy (1859-1898)
- Position: National Library general manager (1884-1898)
- Burial Site: San Justo Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was his primary occupation?
He was a playwright, writer, and librarian.
Which of his works is considered his best?
Many critics regard the 1867 play Un Drama nuevo as his most significant contribution to the theatre.
Achievements
- Genres: theatre
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