Who was Mateo Alemán?
Q: Who was Mateo Alemán?
A: Mateo Alemán was a Spanish writer who graduated from Seville University in 1564 and later studied at Salamanca and Alcalá. He held a post in the treasury from 1571 to 1588.
Q: What is known about his ancestry?
A: Mateo Alemán's ancestors were Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism after 1492, and one of his forebears had been burned by the Inquisition for secretly continuing to practice Judaism.
Q: When did he publish Guzmán de Alfarache?
A: He published the first part of Guzmán de Alfarache in 1599, which became very popular and was printed in at least sixteen editions within five years.
Q: Who did he marry?
A: In 1571, he married Catalina de Espinosa. However, it was not a happy marriage due to his constant money difficulties.
Q: Where did he move in 1608?
A: In 1608, Alemán moved to America where it is said that he worked as a printer in Mexico.
Q: What book did he publish while living there?
A: While living in Mexico, Alemán published Ortografía castellana (1609), which contained ideas for the reform of Spanish spelling.
Q: Is anything known about him after 1609?
A: Nothing is known of Alemán after 1609 but it is sometimes believed that he was still alive as late as 1617.
