Descriptive Summary
Altamirano, Ignacio Manuel, 1834-1893
El Zarco: episodios de la vida mexicana en 1861-1863
1888
1 v. (335 leaves) ;
35 cm.
31139458
Benson Latin American Collection,
General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin
Holograph manuscript of Altamirano's last novel,
<emph render="italic">El Zarco, </emph>
written 1886-1888, and first published posthumously in 1901.
Spanish or Castilian.
Biographical Note
Novelist, poet, journalist. Born 1834 in Tixtla, Mexico; died 1893 in San Remo, Italy. Considered a major contributor to the development of a national literature in Mexico. Major novels include:
<emph render="italic">Clemencia </emph>
(1869),
<emph render="italic">La navidad en las montañas </emph>
(1870), and
<emph render="italic">El zarco </emph>
(1901).
Altamirano also received a law degree; served as representative to the national congress; held the post of professor of the history of philosophy and eloquence in the law school in Mexico City; was elected to the Supreme Court; and founded several newspapers, journals, and societies. He became Mexico's consul general to Spain in 1889 and to France in 1890.
Other positions held include: Professor at Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, Escuela de la Comercio, Escuela de Jurisprudencia, and Escuela Nacional para Maestros, Magistrate of the Suprema Corte de Justicia, Procurador General de la Nación.
Chronology
13 Nov 1834
born in Tixtla (present-day Guerrero) to Francisco Altamirano and Gertrudis Basilio
13 Dec 1834
baptized (from Library of Congress authority record)
1849
entered Instituto Literario de Toluca
studied law at Colegio de San Juan Letrán
1854?
withdrew from Colegio de San Juan Letrán upon the outbreak of the revolution of Ayutla
fought for liberal cause in War of the Reform
returned to study of law
1861
deputy to national congress
fought for liberal cause against French Intervention; attained rank of colonel; distinguished service at battle of Querétaro
1867
ended military service and devoted life to teaching, literature, and public service
1867
founded periodical,
<emph render="italic">El Correo de Mexico, </emph>
with Ignacio Ramírez and Guillermo Prieto
1867
first novel,
<emph render="italic">Julia, </emph>
published
1869
<emph render="italic">Clemencia </emph>
published
1869
founded literary review,
<emph render="italic">El Renacimiento, </emph>
with Gonzalo A. Esteva
1870
director of Liceo Hidalgo
1870
<emph render="italic">La Navidad en las Montañas </emph>
published
1871
participated with Manuel Payno in founding of
<emph render="italic">El Federalista</emph>
1875
participated in founding of
<emph render="italic">La Tribuna</emph>
1880
participated in founding of
<emph render="italic">La Republica</emph>
1889
named Cónsul General de México en España
13 Feb 1893
died in San Remo, Italy
1901
first publication of
<emph render="italic">El Zarco</emph>
Scope and Contents
Bound holograph manuscript by Ignacio Manuel Altamirano, written during the years 1886-1888, of his last novel,
<emph render="italic">El Zarco: episodias de la vida mexicana en 1861-1863.</emph>
The last page bears the author's handwritten and signed note: He concluido esta novela a las once y veinte minutos de la noche del 6 de abril de 1888. The title page contains the following information in the author's hand: Esta novela fué vendida en $200 al Sr. D. Santiago Ballescá en Febrero de 1887, aunque no estaba escrita mas que la mitad de ella, esto es: 13 capítulos que fueron leidos en las sessiones públicas y privadas del Liceo Hidalgo en 1886. El editor se propone publicarla en Barcelona, ilustrada con grabados, sobre dibujos hechos por D. Ramon Cantó.
<emph render="italic">El Zarco </emph>
was published posthumously, in 1901.
Processing Information
Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project, November 1994.
Chronology compiled by Ann Hodges, June 13, 1994
Provenance Information
This manuscript was formerly owned by Luis González Obregon, whose signed note appears on the verso of the title page: Me regaló este autografo el maestro Altamirano poco antes de salir para Europa.
In 1961 the manuscript was in the possession of Marte R. Gómez. (See María del Carmen Millán's introduction to
<emph render="italic">El Zarco y la navidad en las Montañas, </emph>
1966). The manuscript was purchased by the University of Texas in April 1986 from Dorothy Sloan Books.
Sources
Brushwood, John Stubbs, 1920-
<emph render="italic">The romantic novel in Mexico. </emph>
(University of Missouri studies ; v. 26, no. 4)
Columbia, Mo. :
University of Missouri,
1954.
Millán, María del Carmen.
Introduction to <emph render="italic">El Zarco y La navidad en las montañas, </emph>
México :
Editorial Porrua,
1966.