Pedro Estala facts for kids

Pedro Estala (1757–1815) was a Spanish expert in ancient Greek language and culture. He was also a writer, translator, and literary critic. He helped share knowledge and stories by translating many important works.

His Life Story

Pedro Estala's family came from Valencia, Spain. His mother was from Alicante, and his father, Hipólito Casiano Antonio Estala, was from Valencia. Pedro was the third of nine children. His grandfather, Joseph Estala Valero, married Maria Josefa Lozano Ruiz de Valdelomar, who was from a noble family. Because of this, Pedro sometimes used "Valdelomar" as part of his name.

Pedro likely went to school in Madrid. In 1778, he started teaching humanities at the College of San Fernando. He taught there until 1788. Then, he became a professor of rhetoric and Greek at the Seminary of San Carlos in Salamanca. This was a special time for schools that focused on classical languages like Greek.

Pedro had an important supporter named Felipe Bertrán. Bertrán was a bishop and a powerful figure. He helped create the Seminary of San Carlos, where Pedro became a professor. Pedro often visited Salamanca even before he became a professor there.

His Works

Pedro Estala was very busy as a writer and translator. He helped bring many important texts to Spanish readers. Here are some of his notable works:

• Solemn funeral held in the holy church of Salamanca... (1790): A report about a funeral service for his protector, Felipe Bertrán.
• Journey to Parnassus: A literary work.
• The universal traveler or news of old and new world (1795-1801): A huge collection of travel stories, translated and explained by Estala. It had 43 volumes!
• "Discourse on the tragedy" (1793): An essay found in his translation of Sophocles' play, Oedipus Tyrannus.
• "Discourse on the comedy" (1794): An essay in his translation of Aristophanes' play, The Pluto.
• He wrote many prefaces (introductions) for important Spanish poets' works, including:
  • Poems by Francisco de Figueroa (1785)
  • Rimas doctor Bartholomew Leonardo de Argensola (1786)
  • Rhymes Fernando de Herrera (1786)
  • Rimas Don Juan de Jauregui (1786)
  • Rimas Lupercio secretary Leonardo de Argensola (1786)
  • Poems of Don Luis de Gongora y Argote (1789)
  • Lope de Vega's Human and divine the lawyer took Burguillos Rhymes (1792)
• "Prologue" to works Christobal de Castillejo (1792).
• El Imparcial or Political Gazette - Literary (1809): A newspaper he worked on.
• Moral tales of Marmontel (1813): A translation of stories by Jean-François Marmontel.
• Bello-critical satirical registration for intelligence like the Spanish spelling (1785): A satirical work, signed with a pen name.
• The five books on the opinions of philosophers (1793): A handwritten translation of Plutarch's work from Greek.
• Letters from a Spanish to a Anglomaniac (1795): A series of letters.
• Compendium of Natural History of Buffon (1802-1811): A translation and explanation of a natural history book.
• "Letters to Forner" (1814): Letters published in a historical bulletin.

See also

In Spanish: Pedro Estala para niños