James Fitzmaurice-Kelly
Encyclopedia
James Fitzmaurice-Kelly FBA (1858-1923) was an English writer on Spanish literature.
He was born in Glasgow to Colonel Thomas Kelly of the 40th Regiment of Foot and educated at St Charles's College, Kensington, where he learned Spanish from a fellow pupil and taught himself to read Don Quixote. Obtaining work in Spain as a tutor in Jerez de la Frontera
in 1885, he became acquainted with Spanish literary circles, including Juan Valera and Gaspar Núñez de Arce
. Returning to England, he established his reputation on Spanish literature through his reviews and articles for London periodicals. His History of Spanish Literature was published in 1898 and confirmed his reputation.
As a lecturer, he taught at Oxford (1902), the British Academy (1905 and 1916), London University, and Cambridge (1908).
In 1907 he lectured at various American
universities, including Harvard and Yale for the Hispanic Society of America. He was Gilmour professor of Spanish language and literature at the University of Liverpool
, and (1908) Norman MacColl lecturer at Cambridge
. From 1909 to 1916 he was professor of Spanish language and literature at the University of Liverpool
and in 1916 he gave a special course at Cambridge
.
He was a fellow of the British Academy
, corresponding member of the Real Academia Española de la Lengua and of the Real Academia de la Historia
(Madrid); and a Knight Commander
of the Order of Alfonso XII.
He contributed on Spanish literature to the 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica
, to the Cambridge Modern History
, to Homenaie a Menendez y Pelayo, etc.
He died at his house in Sydenham
, Kent
, on 30 November 1923 and was cremated and interred at West Norwood Cemetery
on 4 December.
He was born in Glasgow to Colonel Thomas Kelly of the 40th Regiment of Foot and educated at St Charles's College, Kensington, where he learned Spanish from a fellow pupil and taught himself to read Don Quixote. Obtaining work in Spain as a tutor in Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera is a municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southwestern Spain, situated midway between the sea and the mountains. , the city, the largest in the province, had 208,896 inhabitants; it is the fifth largest in Andalusia...
in 1885, he became acquainted with Spanish literary circles, including Juan Valera and Gaspar Núñez de Arce
Gaspar Núñez de Arce
Gaspar Núñez de Arce was a Spanish poet, dramatist and statesman.He was born at Valladolid, where he was educated for the priesthood. He had no vocation for the ecclesiastical state, plunged into literature, and produced a play entitled Amor y Orgullo which was acted at Toledo in 1849...
. Returning to England, he established his reputation on Spanish literature through his reviews and articles for London periodicals. His History of Spanish Literature was published in 1898 and confirmed his reputation.
As a lecturer, he taught at Oxford (1902), the British Academy (1905 and 1916), London University, and Cambridge (1908).
In 1907 he lectured at various American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
universities, including Harvard and Yale for the Hispanic Society of America. He was Gilmour professor of Spanish language and literature at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, and (1908) Norman MacColl lecturer at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. From 1909 to 1916 he was professor of Spanish language and literature at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and in 1916 he gave a special course at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
He was a fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
, corresponding member of the Real Academia Española de la Lengua and of the Real Academia de la Historia
Real Academia de la Historia
Real Academia de la Historia is a Spanish institution based in Madrid that studies history "ancient and modern, political, civil, ecclesiastical, military, scientific, of letters and arts, that is to say, the different branches of life, of civilisation, and of the culture of the Spanish...
(Madrid); and a Knight Commander
Knight Commander
Knight Commander is the second most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are dormant . The rank entails admission into knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the title 'Sir' or 'Dame' before his or her name...
of the Order of Alfonso XII.
He contributed on Spanish literature to the 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
, to the Cambridge Modern History
Cambridge Modern History
The Cambridge Modern History is a comprehensive modern history of the world, beginning with the 15th century age of Discovery, published by the Cambridge University Press in the United Kingdom and also in the United States....
, to Homenaie a Menendez y Pelayo, etc.
- He edited and/or introduced:
- The History of Don Quixote of The Mancha: Translated from the Spanish of Miguel De Cervantes by Thomas SheltonThomas SheltonThomas Shelton was the English translator of Don Quixote. Shelton's was the first translation of the novel into any language.-Life:...
: Annis 1612, 1620 (1896) - The Complete Works of Cervantes (1901- )
- Don Quixote, with John Ormsby (1899-1900)
- The Course of Revolution in Spain and Portugal, 1845-71, in Cambridge Modern HistoryCambridge Modern HistoryThe Cambridge Modern History is a comprehensive modern history of the world, beginning with the 15th century age of Discovery, published by the Cambridge University Press in the United Kingdom and also in the United States....
, vol. XI The Growth of Nationalities (1909) - Oxford Book of Spanish Verse (1913)
- Samaniego's Fabulas en verso (1917)
- Iriarte's Fabulas Literarias (1917)
- Garcilaso de la Vega's Eglogas (1918)
- Poesias varias (1918)
- Cambridge Readings in Spanish Literature (1920)
- The History of Don Quixote of The Mancha: Translated from the Spanish of Miguel De Cervantes by Thomas Shelton
- He wrote:
- Life of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1892)
- A history of Spanish Literature (1898; In Spanish, 1901; in French, 1904; second edition in French, 1913)
- Lope de Vega and Spanish Drama - The Taylorian LectureTaylorian LectureThe Taylorian Lecture, sometimes referred to as the "Special Taylorian Lecture" or "Taylorian Special Lecture", is a prestigious annual lecture on Modern European Literature, delivered at the Taylor Institution in the University of Oxford since 1889....
(1902) - Cervantes in England (1905)
- Chapters on Spanish Literature (1908)
- Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra: A Memoir (1913)
- Bibliographie de l'histoire de la littérature espagnole (1913)
- Cervantes and Shakespeare (1916)
- Gongora (1918)
- Fray Luis de Leon (1921)
- Spanish Literature Primer (1922)
He died at his house in Sydenham
Sydenham
Sydenham is an area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham; although some streets towards Crystal Palace Park, Forest Hill and Penge are outside the ward and in the London Borough of Bromley, and some streets off Sydenham Hill are in the London Borough of Southwark. Sydenham was in...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, on 30 November 1923 and was cremated and interred at West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
on 4 December.
External links
- "Kelly, James Fitzmaurice (1857–1923)", W. J. Entwistle rev. Donald Hawes, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004