Galdos

(Benito Perez Galdos (1843-1920) is Spain's major 19th-century realist writer. Influenced by Balzac, Dickens, Zola and Tolstoy, his work charts the consolidation and decline of the bourgeoisie in late 19th-century Spain. He charts the insecurities of this group particularly through its gender relationships, making him a significant writer for feminists. This anthology examines the Galdos technique of using everyday melodrama to his advantage and offers a variety of critical and textual interpretations including linguistic, comparative, New Critical, Marxist, Feminist and metafictional. All the essays are supported by a wide-ranging introduction, headnotes to each piece and full appendices. The book contains a section on contemporary comment, which includes Galdos's own reflections on his work. The Appendix gives information on key terms and cultural figures of the period for readers unfamiliar with 19th-century Spain. This book is aimed at undergraduates and the following courses: Hispanic studies; comparative literature; literature in translation; European literature)