Pablo de Jérica facts for kids

Pablo de Jérica (born 1781, died 1841) was a Spanish writer and journalist. He was known for his clever writing and for using humor to share his ideas about freedom and new ways of thinking.

His Life and Work

Pablo was the oldest child in a family that owned a business. He studied philosophy at a religious school in his hometown. While getting ready to study law, he translated an old Roman poem called Heroides by Ovid.

In 1804, he published his first book, Humorous stories in different Castilian meters. After this, he moved to Cadiz to help with his family's business. In Cadiz, he translated a French play called The Puppets. He also learned Italian, English, and Portuguese. Pablo wrote his opinions for a newspaper called El Redactor General. He often went to a special meeting group (called a 'tertulia') at the Café de la Esperanza. Between 1811 and 1813, he wrote for El Diario Mercantil using his initials P.J. and C.

Pablo wrote poems that fought against old ways of thinking. He especially spoke out against people who blindly followed others and against the Inquisition, which was a powerful religious court. In 1813, he became a secretary for a group that protected the freedom of printing. He returned to his hometown in 1814 and wrote for another newspaper, Correo de Vitoria.

Challenges and Exile

Because Pablo supported liberal ideas, he faced many problems. He was put on trial for his writings and was sentenced to be sent away to Melilla for ten years. Another trial, for articles he wrote for the Correo de Vitoria, sentenced him to six years in prison. However, he managed to escape both times by hiding and then fleeing to France.

His book Poetic essays (1814) was even banned by the Inquisition. The Spanish government tried to get him back from France, but he stayed hidden. He was arrested a few times in France but was always released.

Return and Later Life

When the Trienio Liberal (a period of liberal rule in Spain from 1820-1823) began, Pablo returned to his hometown. He became a leader of the Constitutional Volunteers and a member of a censorship board. In 1823, he became the mayor of Vitoria.

However, when the "Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis" (a French army) invaded Spain in 1823, the liberal government ended. Pablo was arrested again and had to go back to France. He became a French citizen and married Victoria de Caubotte. They had four children.

He settled in Dax, France, and continued to write. He published several books, including a Collection of stories, fables, descriptions, anecdotes, selected dialogues (1831) and Miscellaneous instructive and entertaining (1836). He also wrote Letrillas and Fables (1837), which included his funny and sharp poems from his time as a journalist.

Pablo de Jérica used humor, clever jokes, and a style called costumbrismo (which describes everyday life and customs) in his writing. He didn't just want to entertain readers. He wanted to share his ideas about liberal revolution and encourage people to think differently. He was especially good at writing short, witty poems called epigrams, like this one:

Aquí Fray Diego reposa;

en su vida hizo otra cosa.

translation:

Here Fray Diego rests;

In his life he did something else.

This poem makes fun of someone who didn't do much in their life.

His Books

• Humorous stories in different Castilian meters (Valencia, 1804)
• Poetic essays (Valencia, 1814 and Paris, 1817)
• Poems (Vitoria, 1822)
• Poems (Bordeaux, 1831)
• Collection of stories, fables, descriptions, anecdotes, dialogues selected (Bordeaux, 1831)
• Miscellaneous instructive and entertaining (Bordeaux, 1836)
• Letrillas and fables (Bordeaux, 1837)
• The puppets, or what can interest (Cadiz, 1807) - a play translated from French
• The servile or The new newspaper (Cadiz, 1811) - an original play

See also

In Spanish: Pablo de Jérica para niños