Excerpt from "Ortega y Gasset, Literary Critic" by Francisco Ayala, translated by Richard Ford:

In the history of literary criticism the name of Ortega y Garret is indispensable, since in this, as well as in all other sectors of cultural activity, the influence of his thought has been most decisive. He opened paths and established guidelines that remain in effect; his vision of the Quijote not only counterbalanced that of Unamuno, against which it purposely rebelled, but also, by underscoring the resources called into play by Cervantes in composing his master work, he has shaped the attitudes of subsequent professional and academic criticism; and his analysis of the personalities of such important writers as Baroja is as yet unsurpassed.

Among his many influential works, Francisco Ayala has written Reflexiones sobre la estructura narrativa (criticism) and Espana, a la fecha. (essays). His collected fiction appeared in 1969 under the title Obras narrativas completas. At Professor Ayala's request, this essay, and Ideas sobre Pio Baroja, by Jose Ortega y Gasset, were translated by Richard Ford.

© 1974 by The University of Chicago. All excerpts appear in Critical Inquiry, Volume 1, Number 2 (December 1974). This text may be used and shared in accordance with the fair-use provisions of US copyright law, and it may be archived and redistributed in electronic form, provided that this entire notice is carried and that the University of Chicago Press is notified and no fee is charged for access. Archiving, redistribution, or reduplication of this text in other terms, in any medium, requires both the consent of the authors and the University of Chicago Press.

---

Return to Table of Contents