HERMANOS ALVAREZ QUINTERO: BIOGRAPHIES AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

The Álvarez Quintero brothers -Serafín (1871-1938) and Joaquín (1873-1944) - were two Spanish writers born in the second half of the 19th century. They were considered a curious case within literary production because during their careers they signed with the pseudonym “Álvarez Quintero brothers”, even after the death of one of the brothers.

The Álvarez Quintero brothers worked as poets, journalists, storytellers and, above all, comediographers, achieving great renown in every literary facet.

Serafín and Joaquín Álvarez. Source: Kaulak

The work of the two writers is impregnated with a deep colloquialism and local manners, tinged with Andalusian pronunciation and in which the lively and sparkling comedy had a calm and somewhat “pink” life in the background.

Although that "pink" life was criticized -as well as a lack of depth in their dramatic work-, the agility and liveliness of their comic texts, and the balance between jokes, Andalusian pronunciations, sentimentality and quick turns, gave them a lot of fame.

Biographies

Births

The Álvarez Quintero brothers were born in Utrera, a town in Seville, Spain. Serafín was born on March 26, 1871, while Joaquín was born on January 20, 1873. They were children of a wealthy family.

Authors' particularities

Serafin, the youngest, had a more open and communicative personality; instead, the older one was much more reserved. It is important to underline this particularity, since critics, journalists of the time and scholars never knew exactly what part of each work was written by one or the other.

Some even suggested that it was Serafin who provided the stylistic nuance, the reflective character and the foundations of the works. On the other hand, they assumed that Joaquín provided the spark, the vivacity and the grace of the dialogues.

This mystery was due to the fact that they always signed their works (regardless of whoever wrote it) with the pseudonym "Álvarez Quintero brothers."

The union that existed between the two was such that they always appeared together at the premieres of the works, greeted together, and attended lectures, conferences and literary gatherings together. Both even became members of the Royal Spanish Academy, although announced in different years.

During the childhood of both they wrote works that were presented in the patio of their house. Likewise, they also collaborated in handwritten weeklies and newspapers, where they published under the pseudonym "El diablo cojuelo."

Premiere of his first work

On January 30, 1888, at the age of 16 and 15, they premiered their first play, Fencing and Love, at the Cervantes Theater in Seville. It was a great success and motivated their father to send them to Madrid at the end of the same year. There they remained 9 years, in which they combined the pen with two jobs in the Ministry of Finance.

During this first stage all his works were presented as "comic toys". Later they entered the sainete, the entremés, the zarzuela and the comedy.

"The pile of the unpublished"

In 1889 the rest of the family settled in Seville, in Villa y Corte; Before turning 20, both were already very popular. In that year Gilito was released, a work that was very successful.

However, after that season came a time that they called "The heap of the unpublished." During that time they wrote about 50 plays, none of them staged. All were minor works, studies and imitations of other authors that helped them to find their own style.

From this period we can mention: A well of science, From twelve to two, The conspiracy, Gil's hairdresser, Poeticomania, People from the square and A boyfriend for Cecilia.

Also noteworthy are Carmela, The Secret, Economy, Theater for hours, Who's fooling whom?, Those who leave and those who stay, The peace of the home, The doldrums and The last cartridge.

Successful return

In 1897 they premiered two works in the same act, La reja and El ojito Derecho, and the following year they presented La buena sombra and Casa de cardboard. These works marked the return to success of the Álvarez Quintero brothers; There was already an authentic style in their works that brought them a success that they never stopped seeing.

Glorieta de los Hermanos Álvarez. Source: CarlosVdeHabsburgo, from Wikimedia Commons

In 1900, the Álvarez Quintero duo announced that they had prepared fifty works. From that list - made up of the works of "The unpublished pile" - they published about 5 or 6 works annually. Some were even staged abroad, such as at the Colón Theater in Buenos Aires.

In fact, more than a hundred of his works were translated into several languages: English, Italian, Portuguese, German, French, Danish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian and Swedish, among others.

Recognitions

In 1907 they received the Cruz de Alfonso XII decoration, and in 1920 and 1925 Serafín and Joaquín (respectively) were named members of the Royal Spanish Academy.

In 1909 Los galeotes was awarded as the best comedy of the year, a distinction awarded by the Royal Spanish Academy.

A failed marriage and two deaths

Only two events partially and definitively affected the close union that the Álvarez Quintero brothers had. The first was Serafin's unhappy marriage and then, in 1938, her death.

The union of the brothers was such that, even after Serafín died, Joaquín continued to sign his works as “Álvarez Quintero brothers”.

However, the pain over the absence of his brother was affecting his spirits and health. Finally, Joaquín died in 1944 in Madrid. Their last collaboration was La Giralda, a zarzuela.

Plays

Sainetes

- The patio (1901).

- Sunny morning (1905).

Comedies

- The right eye (1897).

- The grate (1897).

- The flowers (1901).

- The love that passes (1904).

- The happy genius (1906).

- Those of Cain (1908).

- Loves and love affairs (1908).

- The galley slaves (1909).

- Doña Clarines (1909).

- Puebla of women (1912).

Zarzuelas

- The Moorish Queen (1903).

- The small country (1907).

- La Giralda (sf).

Drama

- Malvaloca (1912).

- Songwriter (1924).

- Ventolera (1944).

- Marianela (sf).

Poetry

- The gardener's rose (nd).

References

1. Álvarez Quintero brothers. (S. f.). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org.
2. Álvarez Quintero brothers. (S. f.). (N./a.). Biographies and lives. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com.
3. Herrera Ángel, Rafael. (2012). "The Andalusian Costumbrista Theater: the Álvarez Quintero Brothers". Spain: Recovered from: gibralfaro.uma.es.
4. Álvarez Quintero brothers. (S. f.). Spain: Sevillapedia. Recovered from: sevillapedia.wikanda.es.
5. Álvarez Quintero brothers. (S. f.). Spain: Hispanoteca. Recovered from: hispanoteca.eu.