María Rosa de Gálvez facts for kids

María Rosa de Gálvez (born María Antonia Rosalía de Gálvez y Ramírez) was a talented Spanish writer. She was a poet and playwright during a time called the Age of Enlightenment and Neoclassicism. She lived from August 14, 1768, to October 2, 1806.

Early Life and Family

María Rosa de Gálvez was born in Málaga, Spain, on August 14, 1768. Her father was Antonio de Gálvez y Gallardo, an army colonel. Her mother was Mariana Ramírez de Velasco.

She came from an important family. Her uncle was José de Gálvez, who was a minister for King Charles III of Spain. Her cousin, Bernardo de Gálvez, was a viceroy in New Spain (which included parts of North America).

Her Writing Career

In 1789, María Rosa married José Cabrera y Ramírez, a distant cousin. They moved to Madrid, the capital of Spain. In Madrid, she became part of smart groups of thinkers and writers. She became friends with important people like Manuel José Quintana and Manuel Godoy.

María Rosa focused on her writing. She wrote many plays, poems, and articles for magazines. She wrote for Variedades de Ciencias, Literatura y Artes and La Minerva o El Revisor General.

Her most famous work was Obras poéticas (Poetic Works). This collection came out in three books in 1804. Even though it was called "Poetic Works," it also included some of her plays. Some of her plays were also in a collection called El teatro nuevo español (1801).

Sadly, María Rosa de Gálvez faced money problems. She passed away young, at age 38, in Madrid on October 2, 1806. She was buried in the San Sebastian Church.

Her Impact and Legacy

María Rosa de Gálvez was seen as a very modern and independent woman for her time. Some people found her ideas and strong spirit a bit surprising. However, today, experts recognize her work as very important and deserving of its place in Spanish literature.

Her name has been honored in many ways. A municipal library in Macharaviaya is named after her. In Málaga, her hometown, there is a street, a public primary school, and a lecture hall at the University of Málaga named in her honor.

Selected Works

María Rosa de Gálvez wrote many original plays and poems. She also translated works from other languages into Spanish.

Original Works

• Ali-Bek. Tragedia original en cinco actos (Ali-Bek. Original Tragedy in Five Acts), 1801.
• Un loco hace ciento. Comedia en un acto en prosa (One Madman Makes a Hundred. Comedy in One Act in Prose), 1801.
• Obras poéticas de Doña Rosa Gálvez de Cabrera (Poetic Works of Doña Rosa Gálvez de Cabrera), 1804, 3 volumes.
• Safo. Drama trágico en un acto (Sappho. Tragic Drama in One Act).
• Florinda. Tragedia en tres actos (Florinda. Tragedy in Three Acts).
• Blanca de Rossi. Tragedia en cinco actos (Blanca de Rossi. Tragedy in Five Acts).
• Amnón. Tragedia original en cinco actos (Amnon. Original Tragedy in Five Acts).
• Zinda. Drama trágico en tres actos (Zinda. Tragic Drama in Three Acts).
• La delirante. Tragedia original en cinco actos (The Delirious Woman. Original Tragedy in Five Acts).

Translations

María Rosa also translated plays from French into Spanish, making them available to Spanish audiences. Some of her translations include:

• Bion, 1804.
• Catalina, o la bella labradora. Comedia en tres actos (Catherine, or the Beautiful Farmer. Comedy in Three Acts), 1801.

See also

In Spanish: María Rosa de Gálvez para niños