"The Prehistory of the "Episodios Nacionales

It is common knowledge that Gald6s solia desviar toda confesi6n personal y toda discusi6n te6rica acerca de su propia obra. Berkowitz, however, after pointing out that Gald6s as evasive as most authors concludes his discussion of Don Benito's creative process with the rather surprising statement that was in reality the process of a highly methodical person who planned far ahead.2 We have one specific example of Don Benito's throwing dust in the eyes of the curious investigator in the case of Gloria, the first volume of which he said occurred to him suddenly and completely as he walked in the Puerta del Sol and was written down in a mere two weeks! While I do not doubt that the plan of the first part of the novel in its final form came from a sudden moment of inspiration, the manuscript shows that Gald6s wrote two preliminary drafts of the first part of Gloria,3 the first one very long and differing greatly from the final text. We cannot help wondering if other statements about the lack of preparation and planning are not also designed to conceal the creative process and to shroud it with mystery.4

Archaeology · Geography · Prehistory · Archaeological and Historical Studies · Cultural and Mythological Studies · Forestry · Medieval Iberian Studies

• Retrospectives, Nineteenth Century

  Peter Antonio Bly•Hispania•1998

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