(DOWNLOAD) "Juan Valera and the Business of Literature: Epistolary Confessions on Publishing in the 19th Century." by Romance Notes # eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Juan Valera and the Business of Literature: Epistolary Confessions on Publishing in the 19th Century.
- Author : Romance Notes
- Release Date : January 22, 2004
- Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines,Books,Professional & Technical,Education,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 202 KB
Description
WITHIN the vast corpus of Juan Valera's personal correspondence there is a sizable selection which strictly deals with the state of literature--past, present and future--and various theories concerning the different literary genres, be they Valera's own ideas and texts, or those of other figures. Characteristic of all of his letters, don Juan seldom discriminates with whom he is corresponding to discuss the topic of literature, especially since his addressees tended to be well educated, intelligent people. However, the most insightful examples are letters exchanged with other writers, where he typically expressed his true opinions regarding all elements of the writing profession. While many of these letters provide clues to the creative process of don Juan, there is one topic which has become the most frequently mentioned and stresses the economic strain Valera felt all of his professional life: that of publication and editorial houses. In order to understand the process of getting a book or an article published in the second half of 19th century Spain, one need only consult the various volumes of Valera's correspondence. Also, don Juan's constant urging of his contemporaries to write and publish--even if submitting something to a daily or a periodical--shows his dismay with the state of Spanish literature of the era, as well as his love for his country, which he believes can once again be seen as a prominent world power, if only from a cultural standpoint. This then meant a constant improvement in the quality of Spanish literature. In a letter written to the Duque de la Torre, Valera sums up the majority of his commercial experiences in his chosen career as a writer. Commenting upon the sale of his novels and the praise given to a volume of his literary criticism, Valera remarks, "lo cual podia satisfacer algo mi amor propio de autor pero no llena mi bolsillo. Aqui se lo llevan todo editores y libreros. Para hacer algunos reales es menester tomar otro oficio o sudar tinta a chorros y lanzar cuartillas a centenares sin tregua ni reposo" (Correspondencia 56). Despite this rather pessimistic attitude, Valera constantly urged fellow authors to continue to improve upon their craft and submit items to be published, so as to once again move Spain to the forefront of world literature. It is through Valera's private letters that he provides a fairly detailed, although somewhat biased, account of the publishing world of the 19th century, with commentary on several publishers and editorial houses, as well as his encouragement of lesser-known authors, so as to afford the modern day reader an idea of what it took to be a successful author in Valera's time.
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