María Rosa Lida de Malkiel
Encyclopedia
María Rosa Lida de Malkiel, born Maria Rosa Lida (November 7, 1910 – September 25, 1962), was an Argentine
philologist
. Notable as an Hispanist medievalist, she came to the United States on a Rockefeller Foundation
program of study. Beginning in 1947, Lida de Malkiel lectured for many years in the US, including at Harvard University
, the University of California at Berkeley, and Stanford. An advisor to the editorial boards of two professional journals, in the 1950s she was admitted to the Real Academia Española
and the Academia Argentina de Letras.
, Argentina, she had two older brothers: Emilio, who became a hematologist, and Raimundo
, who became a philologist. Her brothers were born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, an area now in Ukraine. As a child, she was raised in a family with a strong Jewish identity, who spoke Yiddish
as their first language. She graduated from the Liceo Nacional de Señoritas Nº1 José Figueroa Alcorta in 1927. Her best friend during her high school years was Ana Rapaport.
Lida graduated from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Buenos Aires
in 1932, winning a prize as best student. She completed her Doctorate in Philology in 1947, summa cum laude
, at the Institute of Hispanic Languages and Literatures. Her dissertation was entitled Juan de Mena, poeta del Prerrenacimiento español (Juan de Mena, Poet of the Spanish Pre-Renaissance). She had studied with her brother Raimundo and the philologist Ángel Rosenblat
. In 1947 she went to the United States on a post-graduate Rockefeller grant, and studied with Dr. Amado Alonso
at Harvard University
, where she also began teaching.
, a scholar of Romance language etymology
and philology at the University of California, Berkeley. They had no children.
grant for post-graduate study in the United States, where she had appointments at Harvard University
and the University of California, Berkeley. There she met her future husband, the Romance philologist, Yakov Malkiel
. They married in 1948 and settled in Oakland, California
. (Her brother Raimundo Lida
migrated with his family to Mexico after the nationalization of universities under Perón
. In 1953 they went on to the US, where he succeeded Amado Alonso at Harvard.
In the US, Lida de Malkiel taught at the University of California, Berkeley
; Harvard University
, University of Illinois, Ohio State University
and Stanford University
, among others. Specializing in romance philology and recognized as an Arthurian-Hispanist pioneer, Lida de Malkiel was elected to the Real Academia Española
in 1953 by direct recommendation of Ramón Menéndez Pidal
and the Academia Argentina de Letras in 1959. She served as an advisor on the editorial boards of Nueva Revista de Filologica Hispanica, based in Mexico City (1947–1962) and Hispanic Review (1950-), based at the University of Pennsylvania
.
She briefly returned to Argentina from the United States in 1961. One of her last works published before she died was an essay: Two Spanish Masterpieces, 'The Book of Good Love
' and 'The Celestina
'. It collected the six lectures she delivered at the University of Illinois during her tenure as a Miller Visiting Professor. She had long been interested in the Spanish classic, The Celestina. Lida de Malkiel had worked for 15 years on her book about La Celestina; it was published three months after her death.
Posthumous publication:
Argentine people
Argentines are the citizens of Argentina, or their descendants abroad. Argentina is a multiethnic society, which means that it is home to people of many different ethnic backgrounds. According to the , Argentina had a population of 36,260,130 inhabitants, of which 1,527,320, or 4.2%, were born...
philologist
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
. Notable as an Hispanist medievalist, she came to the United States on a Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
program of study. Beginning in 1947, Lida de Malkiel lectured for many years in the US, including at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, the University of California at Berkeley, and Stanford. An advisor to the editorial boards of two professional journals, in the 1950s she was admitted to the Real Academia Española
Real Academia Española
The Royal Spanish Academy is the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, Spain, but is affiliated with national language academies in twenty-one other hispanophone nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies...
and the Academia Argentina de Letras.
Early life and education
Born María Rosa Lida to a family of Polish Jewish immigrants in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina, she had two older brothers: Emilio, who became a hematologist, and Raimundo
Raimundo Lida
Raimundo Lida was an Argentine philologist, philosopher of language, literary critic and essayist. He specialised in Romance philology, the literature of the Spanish Golden Age and modernist literature. He taught at Harvard University from 1953, where he was chair of the department of Romance...
, who became a philologist. Her brothers were born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, an area now in Ukraine. As a child, she was raised in a family with a strong Jewish identity, who spoke Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
as their first language. She graduated from the Liceo Nacional de Señoritas Nº1 José Figueroa Alcorta in 1927. Her best friend during her high school years was Ana Rapaport.
Lida graduated from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
in 1932, winning a prize as best student. She completed her Doctorate in Philology in 1947, summa cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
, at the Institute of Hispanic Languages and Literatures. Her dissertation was entitled Juan de Mena, poeta del Prerrenacimiento español (Juan de Mena, Poet of the Spanish Pre-Renaissance). She had studied with her brother Raimundo and the philologist Ángel Rosenblat
Ángel Rosenblat
Ángel Rosenblat was a Venezuelan philologist, essayist and hispanist of Polish descent.-Life:...
. In 1947 she went to the United States on a post-graduate Rockefeller grant, and studied with Dr. Amado Alonso
Amado Alonso
Amado Alonso was a Spanish philologist, linguist and literary critic, who became a naturalised citizen of Argentina and one of the founders of stylistics....
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where she also began teaching.
Marriage and family
In 1948, Lida married the Russian-born Yakov MalkielYakov Malkiel
Yakov Malkiel was a U.S. Romance etymologist and philologist. His specialty was the development of Latin words, roots, prefixes, and suffixes in modern Romance languages, particularly Spanish...
, a scholar of Romance language etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
and philology at the University of California, Berkeley. They had no children.
Career
During the 1930s and 1940s, Lida taught courses in Latin and Greek at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Buenos Aires. She also was studying and teaching medieval Spanish literature. In 1947, she was awarded a Rockefeller FoundationRockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
grant for post-graduate study in the United States, where she had appointments at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and the University of California, Berkeley. There she met her future husband, the Romance philologist, Yakov Malkiel
Yakov Malkiel
Yakov Malkiel was a U.S. Romance etymologist and philologist. His specialty was the development of Latin words, roots, prefixes, and suffixes in modern Romance languages, particularly Spanish...
. They married in 1948 and settled in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. (Her brother Raimundo Lida
Raimundo Lida
Raimundo Lida was an Argentine philologist, philosopher of language, literary critic and essayist. He specialised in Romance philology, the literature of the Spanish Golden Age and modernist literature. He taught at Harvard University from 1953, where he was chair of the department of Romance...
migrated with his family to Mexico after the nationalization of universities under Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
. In 1953 they went on to the US, where he succeeded Amado Alonso at Harvard.
In the US, Lida de Malkiel taught at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
; Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, University of Illinois, Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, among others. Specializing in romance philology and recognized as an Arthurian-Hispanist pioneer, Lida de Malkiel was elected to the Real Academia Española
Real Academia Española
The Royal Spanish Academy is the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, Spain, but is affiliated with national language academies in twenty-one other hispanophone nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies...
in 1953 by direct recommendation of Ramón Menéndez Pidal
Ramón Menéndez Pidal
Ramón Menéndez Pidal was a Spanish philologist and historian. He worked extensively on the history of the Spanish language and Spanish folklore and folk poetry. One of his main topics was the history and legend of The Cid....
and the Academia Argentina de Letras in 1959. She served as an advisor on the editorial boards of Nueva Revista de Filologica Hispanica, based in Mexico City (1947–1962) and Hispanic Review (1950-), based at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
She briefly returned to Argentina from the United States in 1961. One of her last works published before she died was an essay: Two Spanish Masterpieces, 'The Book of Good Love
The Book of Good Love
The Book of Good Love , considered to be one of the masterpieces of Spanish poetry, is a semi-biographical account of romantic adventures by Juan Ruiz, the Archpriest of Hita, dating from 1330....
' and 'The Celestina
La Celestina
La Celestina , actually called Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea or Comedia de Calisto y Melibea, in English Tragicomedy of Calisto and Melibea), is a work composed entirely in dialogue published by Fernando de Rojas in 1499...
'. It collected the six lectures she delivered at the University of Illinois during her tenure as a Miller Visiting Professor. She had long been interested in the Spanish classic, The Celestina. Lida de Malkiel had worked for 15 years on her book about La Celestina; it was published three months after her death.
Personal life
Lida de Malkiel died of cancer in Oakland. Yakov Malkiel posthumously published many of his wife's papers and unpublished notes.Partial list of works
- 1944, Introduction to the theater of SophoclesSophoclesSophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
- 1949, History of HerodotusHistories (Herodotus)The Histories of Herodotus is considered one of the seminal works of history in Western literature. Written from the 450s to the 420s BC in the Ionic dialect of classical Greek, The Histories serves as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that...
, Hellenistic Greek translations - 1950, Juan de Mena, poeta del Prerrenacimiento español (Juan de MenaJuan de MenaJuan de Mena was one of the most significant Spanish poets of the fifteenth century. He was highly regarded at the court of Juan II de Castilla, who appointed him veinticuatro of Córdoba, secretario de cartas latinas and cronista real...
, Poet of the Spanish Pre-Renaissance) - 1961, Two Spanish Masterpieces: The Book of Good Love, and The Celestina
- n.d., Selected Articles on Medieval and Renaissance Spanish Literature
Posthumous publication:
- 1962, La originalidad artistica de La Celestina (The Artistic Originality of 'The Celestina') (completed before her death)
- 1966, Estudios de literatura española y comparada
- 1967, authoritative version of The Tale of Igor's CampaignThe Tale of Igor's CampaignThe Tale of Igor's Campaign is an anonymous epic poem written in the Old East Slavic language.The title is occasionally translated as The Song of Igor's Campaign, The Lay of Igor's Campaign, and The Lay of...
, the medieval Russian epic), edited with Yakov Malkiel - 1974, Dido en la literatura española: Su retrato y defensa (DidoDidoDido was, according to ancient Greek and Roman sources, the founder and first Queen of Carthage . She is best known from the account given by the Roman poet Virgil in his Aeneid...
in Spanish Literature: Her Portrayal and Defense) - 1978, Estudios sobre la literatura española del Siglo XV (Studies of the Spanish Literature of the 15th Century)
Legacy and honors
- 1955, Lida de Malkiel was awarded an honorary doctorate from Smith CollegeSmith CollegeSmith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
.