ESTEBANEZ CALDERON

estebanez calderon, serafin (1799-1867), a spanish author, best known by the pseudonym of "el solitario," was born at malaga on the 27th of december 1799. his first literary effort was _el liston verde_, a poem signed "safinio" and written to celebrate the revolution of 1820. he was called to the bar, and settled for some time at madrid, where he published a volume of verses in 1831 under the assumed name of "el solitario." he obtained an exaggerated reputation as an arabic scholar, and played a minor part in the political movements of his time. he died at madrid on the 5th of february 1867. his most interesting work, _escenas andaluzas_ (1847), is in a curiously affected style, the vocabulary being partly archaic and partly provincial; but, despite its eccentric mannerisms, it is a vivid record of picturesque scenes and local customs. estebanez calderon is also the author of an unfinished history, _de la conquista y perdida de portugal_ (1883), issued posthumously under the editorship of his nephew, antonio canovas del castillo.