Wenceslao Retana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wenceslao Retana
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Retana circa 1901
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Wenceslao Emilio Retana y Gamboa
September 28, 1862 Boadilla del Monte, Spain
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| Died | January 21, 1924 (aged 61) Madrid, Spain
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| Nationality | Spanish |
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Wenceslao Emilio Retana y Gamboa (born September 28, 1862 – died January 21, 1924) was a Spanish writer and scholar. He was also known as W.E. Retana or Wenceslao E. Retana. He was a true "polymath," meaning he was skilled in many different areas of knowledge.
Retana worked as a government official and a colonial administrator. He was also a talented writer, biographer, and political commentator. He loved books, collecting them, and writing about them. He became an expert on the Philippines and its culture.
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Who Was Wenceslao Retana?
Wenceslao Retana was a very important person in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was born in Spain and became known for his many talents. He worked for the Spanish government in different roles.
He was especially interested in the Philippines, which was a Spanish colony at the time. He collected many books and documents about the Philippines. This made him a leading "Filipinologist," someone who studies the Philippines.
His Work as a Writer
Retana wrote many books and articles. He was a biographer, meaning he wrote about the lives of famous people. He also shared his opinions on politics and society.
He was a publisher, which means he helped print and distribute books. His love for books also made him a "bibliophile," a person who collects and loves books. He was also a "bibliographer," someone who creates lists of books and articles.
Retana and José Rizal
One of the most interesting parts of Retana's life was his connection to José Rizal. Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. At first, Retana and Rizal had different ideas and disagreed on some things.
However, Retana later became a great admirer of Rizal. He even wrote the first important biography about Rizal's life. This book was called Vida y Escritos del Dr. José Rizal, which means "Life and Writings of Dr. José Rizal."
An Expert on the Philippines
Rosa M. Vallejo, another scholar, called Retana the "foremost" non-Filipino Filipinologist. This means he was considered the best expert on the Philippines who was not from the Philippines himself. His work helped many people learn about the history and culture of the Philippines.
Retana's writings and collections are still important today. They help us understand the history of Spain and the Philippines. He showed how one person can be interested in many different things and become an expert in them all.
