The Canary novelist Benito Pérez Galdós

Benito Pérez Galdós: Life and Legacy of the Great Canarian Novelist

Many think that the Canary Islands only offer sun and beach, but nothing could be further from the truth. This archipelago has also been the birthplace of great cultural and artistic figures. One of the most prominent is Benito Pérez Galdós, born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1843.

Galdós was not only a writer but also a social observer, journalist, and defender of literary truth. Although his work faced strong rejection from the more conservative sectors, today he is recognized as one of the best novelists in the Spanish language, even compared to Cervantes.

Beginnings of his life and literary career

From a young age, he showed interest in music, drawing, and literature. At nineteen, he traveled to Madrid to study law, but his true calling was writing. There, he met important intellectuals and began collaborating in media such as La Nación and El DebateA trip to Paris in 1867, where he discovered the novels of Balzac, marked a turning point in his narrative style.

In 1873, he published the first Episodios Nacionales, a series of historical novels that portray 19th-century Spain. With these works, he managed to blend history and fiction, bringing memorable characters to life and vividly recreating the political and social events of the time.

Unique characteristics of his work

What distinguishes Pérez Galdós is his deep psychological understanding of the characters. His stories reflect the social reality of Spain, something that was uncomfortable for both the Church and conservative sectors. Because of this, his books were rejected by many, and he himself was marginalized from official recognition, including the Nobel Prize.

Despite this, he left an indelible legacy. In addition to the 46 Episodios Nacionales, he wrote more than thirty novels — such as Fortunata y Jacinta or Misericordia— and about twenty plays. He also devoted time to politics and was a deputy on several occasions, first for the Liberal Party and later within the republican ranks, although he never felt comfortable in that field.

Final years and death

In his last years, he lost his sight and faced serious financial problems. He died in Madrid in 1920, with serious economic hardships, but his work remains alive. Reading Galdós is to delve into the human mind and the history of Spain.

If you visit Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, do not miss the Casa-Museo Pérez Galdós, the writer's birthplace in the Triana neighborhood. And you can see the city live with our webcams of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.