Calderón de la Barca, Pedro

Spanish dramatist and poet. After the death of Lope de Vega in 1635, he was considered to be the leading Spanish dramatist. Most celebrated of the 118 plays is the philosophical La vida es sueño/Life is a Dream (1635).

Calderón was born in Madrid and 1613–19 studied law at Salamanca. In 1620 and 1622 he was successful in poetry contests in Madrid; while still writing dramas, he served in the army in Milan and the Netherlands (1625–35). By 1636 his first volume of plays was published and he had been made master of the revels at the court of Philip IV, receiving a knighthood in 1637. In 1640 he assisted in the suppression of the Catalan rebellion. After the death of his mistress he became a Franciscan 1650, was ordained 1651, and appointed as a prebendary of Toledo in 1653. As honorary chaplain to the king 1663, he produced outdoor religious plays for the festival of the Holy Eucharist. He died in poverty.

His works include the tragedies El pintor de su deshonra/The Painter of His Own Dishonour (1645), El alcalde de Zalamea/The Mayor of Zalamea (1640), and El médico de su honra/The Surgeon of His Honour (1635); the historical El príncipe constante/The Constant Prince (1629); and the dashing intrigue La dama duende/The Phantom Lady (1629).