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Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio (1562- 1635)

Felix Lope de Vega is one of the most famous names in the Spanish literature. He was alive during the Spanish ‘Golden Age’ and was a contemporary of Shakespeare and Cervantes.

He was extremely prolific in his output and was described by his rival Cervantes as a ‘monster of nature’ and a ‘phoenix amongst geniuses’.

His work developed in power and complexity throughout his lifetime as he experimented with new forms and fusions of style. He wrote plays, poetry and novels: 3000 sonnets have been attributed to him along with nearly two thousand plays and some people regard his work as the highest peak of Spanish literary expression.

Lope de Vega’s personal life was rather quite colourful. His came from a humble home in Madrid and by the age of five he was reading Latin and Castilian and composing verse. He wrote his first plays at the age of twelve.

After studying at a Jesuit college he went on to the University of Alcala de Henares but did not graduate.

His failure at university was largely due to his chaotic lifestyle and womanizing behaviour.

Consequently, his only means of support was to work as a secretary to various aristocrats and courtiers whilst writing occasional plays to order.

In 1583 he spent some time in the navy and fought against the Portuguese in the battle of the Terceira Islands, after which he returned to his secretarial work in Madrid.

Whilst his literary output did not falter, Lope de Vega’s employment was constantly being interrupted by his amorous adventures.

After a passionate affair with a married woman he was punished by the court, after pressure from the woman’s influential father, with exile from the kingdom of Castille for two years and from the court for eight years, on pain of death.

After eloping with and marrying another of his lovers, Elena Osorio, he joined the Great Armada in 1588.

After the defeat of the Armada he settled in Valencia awaiting the end of his exile.

His wife died in childbirth in Toledo and on his return to Madrid he remarried, this time to the daughter of a rich merchant, all the while continuing affairs with other women, several of whom bore him children.

On the death of his second wife and favourite son, he made the decision to enter the church and in 1627 became a knight of the Order of Malta.

By this time his spectacular talent was recognized and he was honoured by both the king and the pope.

The expression ‘es de Lope’ (it’s Lope’s) became a common phrase in the language to refer to anything that was of excellent skill or quality.