Viera y Clavijo

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Literature · Subcategory: Literary street map

José de Viera y Clavijo (1731-1813) is considered the classical author of Canarian literature, especially for his Noticias de la Historia General de las Islas Canarias and the Diccionario de Historia Natural de las Islas Canarias . His prose is the most praised aspect of his work as he is regarded as the first historian of the Canary Islands and an essential reference. His influence extends not only to historians but also to researchers and travellers who have visited the Islands since the 18th century. Poetry was his least valued facet, although he was a literary model for 19th-century writers. In the preface to one of his works, we can already glimpse his genius and definitively recognise him as a hallmark of identity:

“If you treat my work with disdain, and leave this offering useless, it will be bad for you; because you should know that every man of judgement, after having vainly run through the barren dreams of distraction, ambition, wealth, gluttony; through those of politics, arms, laws, commerce, erudition, heraldry, the..., finds, if he awakens from the nightmare and is disillusioned, no other harbour, no other calm, no other consolation, no other solid and pleasant study than Nature.”

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