1843-1920. Spanish novelist, born in the
Canary Islands. His works include the 46
historical novels in the cycle Episodios
nacionales and the 21-novel cycle Novelas
espanolas contemporaneos, which includes Dona
Perfecta 1876 and the epic Fortunata y
Jacinta 1886-87, his masterpiece. In scale he
has been compared to Balzac and Dickens.