Skip to main content

El Zarco: episodios de la vida mexicana en 1861-1863

 Collection
Identifier: 31139458

Scope and Contents

Bound holograph manuscript by Ignacio Manuel Altamirano, written during the years 1886-1888, of his last novel, El Zarco: episodias de la vida mexicana en 1861-1863.

The last page bears the author's handwritten and signed note: He concluido esta novela a las once y veinte minutos de la noche del 6 de abril -1888. The title page contains the following information in the author's hand: Esta novela fué vendida en $200 al Sr. D. Santiago Ballescá en Febrero -1887, aunque no estaba escrita mas que la mitad de ella, esto es: 13 capítulos que fueron leidos en las sessiones públicas y privadas del Liceo Hidalgo en 1886. El editor se propone publicarla en Barcelona, ilustrada con grabados, sobre dibujos hechos por D. Ramon Cantó.

El Zarco was published posthumously, in 1901.

Dates

  • Creation: 1888

Language of Materials

Spanish

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted.

Use Restrictions

Standard copyright restrictions apply.

Biographical Note

Novelist, poet, journalist. Born 1834 in Tixtla, Mexico; died 1893 in San Remo, Italy. Considered a major contributor to the development of a national literature in Mexico. Major novels include: Clemencia (1869), La navidad en las montañas (1870), and El zarco (1901).

Altamirano also received a law degree; served as representative to the national congress; held the post of professor of the history of philosophy and eloquence in the law school in Mexico City; was elected to the Supreme Court; and founded several newspapers, journals, and societies. He became Mexico's consul general to Spain in 1889 and to France in 1890.

Other positions held include: Professor at Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, Escuela de la Comercio, Escuela de Jurisprudencia, and Escuela Nacional para Maestros, Magistrate of the Suprema Corte de Justicia, Procurador General de la Nación.

13 Nov 1834
born in Tixtla (present-day Guerrero) to Francisco Altamirano and Gertrudis Basilio
13 Dec 1834
baptized (from Library of Congress authority record)
1849
entered Instituto Literario de Toluca
studied law at Colegio de San Juan Letrán
1854?
withdrew from Colegio de San Juan Letrán upon the outbreak of the revolution of Ayutla
fought for liberal cause in War of the Reform
returned to study of law
1861
deputy to national congress
fought for liberal cause against French Intervention; attained rank of colonel; distinguished service at battle of Querétaro
1867
ended military service and devoted life to teaching, literature, and public service
1867
founded periodical, El Correo de Mexico, with Ignacio Ramírez and Guillermo Prieto
1867
first novel, Julia, published
1869
Clemencia published
1869
founded literary review, El Renacimiento, with Gonzalo A. Esteva
1870
director of Liceo Hidalgo
1870
La Navidad en las Montañas published
1871
participated with Manuel Payno in founding of El Federalista
1875
participated in founding of La Tribuna
1880
participated in founding of La Republica
1889
named Cónsul General de México en España
13 Feb 1893
died in San Remo, Italy
1901
first publication of El Zarco

Full Extent

1 v. (335 leaves); ; 35 cm.

Abstract

Holograph manuscript of Altamirano's last novel, El Zarco, written 1886-1888, and first published posthumously in 1901.

Acquisiton Information

This manuscript was formerly owned by Luis González Obregon, whose signed note appears on the verso of the title page: Me regaló este autografo el maestro Altamirano poco antes de salir para Europa.

In 1961 the manuscript was in the possession of Marte R. Gómez. (See María del Carmen Millán's introduction toEl Zarco y la navidad en las Montañas, 1966). The manuscript was purchased by the University of Texas in April 1986 from Dorothy Sloan Books.

Sources

  • Brushwood, John Stubbs, 1920- The romantic novel in Mexico. (University of Missouri studies; v. 26, no. 4) Columbia, Mo.: University of Missouri, 1954.
  • Millán, María del Carmen. Introduction to El Zarco y La navidad en las montañas, México: Editorial Porrua, 1966.

Processing Information

Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project, November 1994.

Chronology compiled by Ann Hodges, June 13, 1994

Title
Ignacio Manuel Altamirano's El Zarco: episodios de la vida mexicana en 1861-1863
Status
Edited Full Draft
Author
Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection
Date
2001
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Revision Statements

  • February 24, 2003: Edited with XMetal3 by Bob Stewart following<title xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="">TARO EAD V.1 Editing for BLAC Finding Aids. </title>
  • Tue Jul 22 14:58:36 CDT 2003: urn:taro:utexas.blac.00064 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (20030505).
  • 2021 May: Edited by Dylan Joy to fix compliance check errors to prepare for the migration to new TARO website.
  • 2021 November: Edited by Devon Murphy to update control access terms and formatting based on the TARO Control Access List.
  • 2025 July: Revised by Ryan Sullivant to fix validation errors prior to ingestion into ArchivesSpace.

Repository Details

Part of the Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin Repository

Contact:
2300 Red River Street
Austin Texas 78712 United States
(512) 495-4578