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Ignacio Manuel Altamirano
"El Zarco : episodios de la vida mexicana en 1861-1863"
Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project
November 1994
Biographical Sketch
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: Clemencia
(1869), La navidad en las montañas (1870), and El zarco
(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.
Bound holograph manuscript by Ignacio Manuel Altamirano, written
during the years 1886-1888, of his last novel, El zarco: episodias
de la vida mexicana en 1861-1863 .
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."
El Zarco was published posthumously, in 1901.
Provenance Note
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 El zarco y
la navidad en las Montañas , 1966). The manuscript was
purchased by the University of Texas in April 1986 from Dorothy Sloan
Books.
Chronology
| 13 Nov 1834 | born in Tixtla (present-day
Guerrero) to Francisco Altamirano and Gertrudis Basilio | | 13 Dec 1834 | baptized (from LC 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, El Correo de Mexico ,
with Ignacio Ramírez and Guillermo Prieto | | 1867 | first novel, Julia , published | | 1869 | Clemencia published | | 1869 | founded literary review, El Renacimiento ,
with Gonzalo A. Esteva | | 1870 | director of Liceo Hidalgo | | 1870 | La Navidad en las Montañas
published | | 1871 | participated with Manuel Payno in founding of El
Federalista | | 1875 | participated in founding of La
Tribuna | | 1880 | participated in founding of La
Republica | | 1889 | named Cónsul General de México en
España | | 13 Feb 1893 | died in San Remo, Italy | | 1901 | first publication of El Zarco |
- 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
Compiled by Ann Hodges, June 13, 1994
Sources:
Brushwood, J. S., The romantic novel in Mexico. Vol. XXVI, The
University of Missouri Studies. Columbia, Missouri, 1954.
Millán, María del Carmen, introduction to El zarco y la
navidad en las montañas, 1966.
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