Miguel de Unamuno

Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo (September 29, 1864–December 31, 1936) was a writer and philosopher from the Basque Country in Spain.

Introduction

Unamuno worked in all major genres: essays, novels, poetry, and theater, and, as a modernist, contributed greatly to dissolving the boundaries between genres. There is some debate as to whether Unamuno was in fact a member of the Generation of '98 (an ex post facto literary group of Spanish intellectuals and philosophers that was the creation of José Martínez Ruiz — a group that includes Antonio Machado, Azorín, Pío Baroja, Ramón del Valle-Inclán, Maetzu and Ganivet, among others). His philosophy perhaps foreshadowed the thinking of 20th century existentialists, such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus.

Related Topics:
Essay - Novel - Poetry - Theater - Modernist - Generation of '98 - Intellectual - Philosopher - Antonio Machado - Azorín - Pío Baroja - Ramón del Valle-Inclán - 20th century - Existentialists - Jean-Paul Sartre - Albert Camus

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In addition to his writing, Unamuno played an important role in the intellectual life of Spain. He served as rector of the University of Salamanca for two periods: from 1900 to 1914 and 1930 to 1936, during a time of great social and political upheaval. Unamuno was removed from his post by the government in 1914, to the protest of other Spanish intellectuals. From 1926 to 1930 he lived in exile, first in the Canary Islands and then in France, and did not return until the fall of General Primo de Rivera's dictatorship in 1930, when he took up his rectorship again. It is said in Salamanca that the day he returned to the University, Unamuno began his lecture by saying "Yesterday,...", as Fray Luis de León had done in the same place four centuries before, as though he had not been gone at all. After the fall of Rivera's dictatorship, Spain embarked on its second Republic, a short-lived attempt by the people of Spain to take democratic control of their own country. The burgeoning Republic was eventually quashed when a military coup headed by General Francisco Franco caused the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Unamuno was effectively removed from his post again by Franco during this time. In 1936 Unamuno had a brief quarrel with Millán Astray at Salamanca University. Some time after that, he was placed under house arrest, where he remained until his death.

Related Topics:
University of Salamanca - 1900 - 1914 - 1930 - 1936 - 1926 - Canary Islands - France - Primo de Rivera - Fray Luis de León - General Francisco Franco - Spanish Civil War - Millán Astray - Salamanca University

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