RAMÓN PÉREZ DE AYALA: BIOGRAPHY, STYLE AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

Ramón Pérez de Ayala (1880-1962) was a 20th century Spanish journalist and writer. His work was characterized by the symbolic and intellectual qualities of his time, in addition to his penchant for writing essays. At the beginning of his work he dedicated himself to making autobiographical stories.

The work of this writer has been divided by scholars into three stages. The first, linked to his youth, was from a negative and pessimistic position before the circumstances of life. The second was attached to the transcendental of the soul, and the symbolism was present. The latter was more universal.

Ramón Pérez de Ayala. Source: Ricardo Martín

Pérez de Ayala was a writer who was able to perform skillfully in all literary genres, however he was not successful writing theater. As for his poetic work, it was philosophical, ideological and conceptual enough, without losing the rhythm and emotion of the verses.

Biography

Ramón Pérez de Ayala y Fernández del Portal was born on August 9, 1880 in the city of Oviedo. It is known that his parents were named Cirilo and Luisa. At an early age he was orphaned of a mother, which meant for him a childhood full of loneliness and emotional deprivation.

Studies by Pérez de Ayala

The first years of training the writer spent in some schools, such as the Immaculate Conception Institute, and those belonging to the Jesuits. He felt little affection towards his teachers, however, Julio Cejador and Frauca made a difference.

At an early age Pérez de Ayala had contact with the world of the humanities, and learned everything he could from this area. Later he entered the university of his native city to study Law, some time later he went to Madrid and was linked to the Free Institution of Education.

From his university days was his sympathy for the doctrine of Krausism, which started from the idea that God had the world contained within him, although he was not in it. At the same time he was attracted to the Regenerationism related to the study of the coming down of Spain.

In contact with Modernism

The time that Ayala spent in Madrid he took advantage of it to get in touch with the main representatives of Modernism. This was thanks to the intervention of the journalist Pedro González Blanco. Jacinto Benavente, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Azorín and Valle-Inclán were some of his friends within this trend.

It was that time, year 1902, when the writer published his first novel, Thirteen Gods, under the characteristics of Modernism. His affinity with the movement in vogue led him, together with other colleagues, to found the literary magazine Helios, which circulated between 1903 and 1904.

Between trips, awards and work

Ramón's stay in the Spanish capital helped him to polish himself in many professional areas. Before leaving for London in 1907, he wrote as a contributor to the newspapers ABC and El impartial. A year later and far from his homeland, the news of his father's suicide reached him.

Portrait of Ramón Pérez de Ayala. Source: Joaquín Sorolla

The young writer made a long trip to various European countries, such as Italy, Germany, France and England. He also had the opportunity to visit the United States. Many of those trips were for work, others for pleasure and also to acquire new knowledge and learning.

His work as a correspondent during World War I gave him enough material to write Hermann in Chains. His performance as an impeccable writer was recognized, and in 1927 he obtained the National Prize for Literature, becoming a member of the Royal Spanish Academy.

Upon his return to Spain, in the company of his colleagues José Ortega y Gasset and Gregorio Marañón, he began the work of the so-called Grouping at the Service of the Republic, totally against the monarchy. Citizens welcomed the initiative in an extraordinary way.

A short political life

With the creation of the Grouping at the Service of the Republic, Ayala was seen favorably by society. Later the Government of the Second Republic appointed him, in 1932, ambassador to London and director of the Prado Museum.

Before the Spanish Civil War he resigned from the diplomatic post, the political course of Spain did not generate confidence.

Last days and death of Pérez de Ayala

In 1936, when the Spanish Civil War broke out, the voice of the intellectuals wanted to be silenced, and many had to leave their country. Ramón went into exile in France, and spent some time also living in the city of Buenos Aires.

For a short time he was in his country, and then he returned to Argentina. The situation in his Spain and various family events led him to depression. It is known that two children he had suffered the consequences of having fought in the war.

Plaque to Ramón Pérez de Ayala. Source: Adolfobrigido, from Wikimedia Commons

The writer spent more than twenty years outside of Spain. He lived in exile the most difficult stages of his life. After the death of his eldest son, he decided to return in 1954. Eight years later he died in Madrid, on August 5, 1962.

Style

He was a writer framed within Modernism and Spanish intellectual Symbolism. Pérez de Ayala's work was characterized by the use of fine and elegant language. He did not skimp on the use of the relationships between texts, of the words linked to Latin and Greek, in the same way he used quotations.

In most of his writings he exhibited his particular vision of things, thus occupying a place in the philosophical doctrine of Perspectivism. In addition, he used analogies to compare points of view. It was always like him to make his high intellectual level clear.

In the case of poetry, the scholars considered that it was very ornate and elaborate, without diminishing its beauty. As for her narrative work, she gave it personality, a style distinguished enough to leave psychological traces.

Plays

The work of Ramón Pérez de Ayala was framed within the lines of an ironic and provocative humor before the reader. Among the first were AMDG, an autobiographical novel in which he exposed his position of rejection before the church, and Thirteen gods.

Here are the most outstanding works within the literary genres that the author developed:

Narrative

- He smiled (1909).

- Darkness on the summits (1907).

- AMDG (1910, whose title was based on the motto of the Jesuits Ad maiorem Dei gloriam or the greater glory of God in Spanish).

- The leg of the fox (1911).

- Troteras and dancers (1913).

- Prometheus (1916).

- Sunday light (1916).

- The fall of the lemons (1916).

- Belarmino and Apolino (1921).

- The works of Urbano and Simona (1924).

- Under the sign of Artemis (1924).

- The navel of the world (1924).

- Tigre Juan y el curandero de su honor (1926, a novel in two volumes)

Lyric

Pérez de Ayala's lyrical work was not as prolific as the narrative. However, it was still rich in terms of quality, for this reason it is appropriate to mention the following:

- The peace of the path (1904).

- The innumerable path (1916).

- The walking path (1921).

Test

Within the genre of the essay, very well dominated by this consecrated writer, the following titles stood out:

- Hernann in chains. Book of the Italian spirit and art (1917).

- The masks (1917-1919).

- Politics and bulls (1918).

- Friendships and memories (1961).

- Fables and cities (1961).

- Entertaining trip to the country of leisure (1975, his posthumous work).

Brief description of the most representative works

AMDG

This narrative work by Pérez de Ayala has been considered one of the most successful in his literary career. Education, as well as the experiences he lived within the schools of the Society of Jesus, aroused interest in the author, so he decided to expose them to society through a manuscript.

In the novel, he exposed what in his opinion was the lack of teachers in Jesuit institutions. He considered that at a pedagogical level they were not prepared to teach. The Catholic Church made itself felt, and the scandal made the writer more famous.

Fragment

“… His apparent indifference was so great that it puzzled the students. He walked between the ranks as if absorbed in his own musings. A child, believing him to be absent from external things, would turn to say any rubbish to a friend; He had not uttered three words, and he already had Mur's bony hand on his cheek… ”.

Tigre Juan and the healer of his honor

It is a novel that the writer divided into two parts or volumes. It is considered the last of its narrative genre. It is a story of love and death, where only deep love and the reciprocity of surrender are the way to the fullness of happiness.

The literary work of Ramón Pérez de Ayala was one of the most outstanding of its time, its quality competing with that of Miguel de Unamuno. The themes that he argued, as well as the personality that impressed him on the proposals, allowed him to enjoy originality.

The propriety of his language, as well as his sobriety, perfectly combined with his ironic and burlesque tone. The irony of his writing challenged the reader to determine if his position or vision on a certain topic was serious or just a joke. He knew how to make a difference with his particular style.

References

1. Ramón Pérez de Ayala. (2019). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org.
2. Tamaro, E. (2004-2019). Biography of Ramón Pérez de Ayala (N / a): Biographies and Lives: the online biographical encyclopedia. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com.
3. Fernández, J. (2019). Ramón Pérez de Ayala. Spain: Hispanoteca. Recovered from: hispanoteca.eu.
4. Ramón Pérez de Ayala. (2019). Cuba: Ecu Red. Recovered from: ecured.cu.
5. Ramón Pérez de Ayala. (2019). (N / a): Lecturalia. Recovered from: lecturalia.com.