Amongst the great writers of Spain’s “Golden Age”, none proved to be as prolific as Lope Félix de Vega Carpio. Dubbed a “monstruo de la naturaleza” by his contemporary, Miguel de Cervantes, Lope produced some eight hundred plays, as well as volumes of lyric poetry, narrative poems and a range of prose works. According to Ezra Pound, “an attempt to enclose him in any formula is like trying to make one pair of boots fit a centipede” (quoted in Trueblood 1974: 4). Classified as the founder of Spanish national theatre and acclaimed as a genius in his lifetime, Lope’s picture adorned the homes of many members of his adoring public and his name was synonymous with excellenc

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First published 08 August 2005

Citation: Canning, Elaine. "Lope de Vega". The Literary Encyclopedia. 8 August 2005.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4531, accessed 20 November 2009.]