Diego de Torres Villarroel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Diego de Torres Villarroel
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| Born | 17 June 1693 Salamanca, Spain
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| Died | 19 June 1770 (aged 77) Salamanca, Spain
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| Nationality | Spanish |
| Other names | Gran Piscátor |
| Citizenship | Spain |
| Alma mater | Colegio Trilingüe, University of Salamanca |
| Occupation | Mathematician, professor, writer, priest |
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Notable work
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Vida, ascendencia, nacimiento, crianza y aventuras del Doctor Don Diego de Torres Villarroel, Sueños morales, visiones y visitas de Torres con D. Francisco de Quevedo por Madrid |
Diego de Torres Villarroel (1693 – 19 June 1770) was a Spanish writer, poet, playwright, doctor, mathematician, and priest. He was also a professor at the University of Salamanca. His most famous book is his autobiography, Vida, ascendencia, nacimiento, crianza y aventuras del Doctor Don Diego de Torres Villarroel. It was first published in 1743.
Contents
Life of Diego de Torres Villarroel
Diego de Torres Villarroel was born in Salamanca, Spain. He was baptized on June 18, 1694. His father was a bookseller, and his mother was a draper's daughter.
After finishing elementary school, he studied Latin. Later, he joined the Colegio Trilingüe in Salamanca. However, young Diego was not very interested in school at first. His behavior often caused problems with the school authorities.
He only started to love learning when he read books in his father's shop. This is where he found a passion for mathematics and astrology.
Early Adventures and Predictions
Because of his behavior, Villarroel decided to leave for Portugal. There, he lived an exciting life. He worked as a hermit, a dancing teacher, and even an alchemist. He was also a mathematician, a soldier, a bullfighter, a medical student, and an astrologer.
When he returned to Salamanca, he began to read many books. These books were about science, magic, and mathematics. He earned money by publishing almanacs and yearly predictions. He used the nickname "The Great Piscator of Salamanca." In 1724, he famously predicted the death of the young King Luis I.
In 1723, he moved to Madrid and made many important friends. He studied medicine and earned his degree in the city of Ávila. Back in Madrid, he became very poor. He tried to make money in unusual ways. Luckily, the Countess of Arcos helped him. He had tried to help her house get rid of a poltergeist.
Becoming a Professor
After some years, Villarroel went back to Salamanca. He found out that the mathematics professor job at the university was open. He decided to apply for it. He easily won against his only competitor. He became a professor, even though his math knowledge was still basic.
In 1732, Villarroel was sent away from Spain. This happened because he helped a friend in a disagreement that caused trouble. They tried to escape to France but returned to Spain to face the consequences. Villarroel lived in Coimbra, Portugal, during his exile. A royal order allowed him to return to Salamanca in 1734.
From then on, he focused on his university job and writing. He also visited Madrid often. There, he met the Duchess of Alba. In 1743, he published the first four parts of his autobiography. It was a huge success. More parts were added later.
In 1750, he was allowed to retire with a pension. His life became much calmer. In 1752, he published all his works together. People paid money in advance to get a copy. This was very unusual then and showed how popular he was. He passed away on June 19, 1770, at 77 years old.
Influence of Leonese Language
Diego de Torres Villarroel used parts of the Leonese language in some of his writings. For example, he used Leonese words like "peri" (meaning "more"). He also used different word endings and forms. These included "jicioren" (they made), "salioren" (they went out), and "dixioren" (they said).
Works of Diego de Torres Villarroel
Villarroel did not think highly of his own math and science skills. He felt the education in Spain during his time was not very good. He once wrote that he knew he was "in the land of the blind." He meant that Spain lacked good teachers in these subjects. He believed that "in the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king."
Today, Villarroel is more famous as a writer. He was a very popular author. He wrote about many different topics. His writing style was similar to Francisco de Quevedo. Villarroel imitated Quevedo's Sueños (dream-like stories about Hell) in his own book, Sueños morales, visiones y visitas de Torres con D. Francisco de Quevedo por Madrid (1727–1751).
He also wrote Los desdichados del mundo y la gloria (1737). He wrote poems and plays too. But his most important work is his picaresque story about his own life. It is called Vida, ascendencia, nacimiento, crianza y aventuras del doctor don Diego de Torres Villarroel. This book was published in 1743 and later had more parts added. It has six chapters, each covering ten years of his life.
He also wrote scientific books, like Anatomía de lo visible e invisible de ambas esferas (1738). He wrote about the lives of saints, such as Vida de Sor Gregoria de Santa Teresa. He also wrote about poets, like Vida de Gabriel Álvarez de Toledo.
The famous writer Jorge Luis Borges really liked Villarroel's books when he was young.
List of Key Works
- Obras de Torres (1752) - A collection of his works.
- Vida, ascendencia, nacimiento, crianza y aventuras del doctor don Diego de Torres y Villarroel (1743) - His autobiography.
- Sueños morales, visiones y visitas de Torres con D. Francisco de Quevedo por Madrid (1727–1751) - His dream-like stories.
- El ermitaño y Torres (1752)
- Correo del otro Mundo al Gran Piscátor de Salamanca : cartas respondidas a los muertos por el mismo Piscátor.
- Los desahuciados del mundo y de la gloria (1737)
- El duende.
- Noticia de las virtudes medicinales de la Fuente del Caño de la villa de Babilafuente.
- Usos y provechos de las aguas de Tamames y baños de Ledesma.
- Viaje fantástico del Gran Piscátor de Salamanca / por su author el Bachiller Don Diego de Torres.
- Visiones y visitas de Torres con don Francisco de Quevedo por la Corte.
- Conversaciones Physico-Médicas y Chímicas de la Piedra Filosofal. (1752)
Poetry
- El presente siglo
Sonnets
- A una dama
- A la memoria de D. Juan Domingo de Haro y Guzmán
- Ciencia de los cortesanos de este siglo
- Confusión y vicios de la Corte
- ¿Cuándo vendrá la muerte?
- Cuenta los pasos de la vida
- Engulle el poderoso rica sopa
- Escribe a Lesbia ausente
- Pago que da el mundo a los poetas
- Respuesta a Filis
- Vida bribona
See also
In Spanish: Diego de Torres Villarroel para niños
