A romantic spirit in Córdoba: An examination of the life and poetry of the unsung andalusian translator, Guillermo Belmonte Müller

Abstract

This article looks at the life and poetical development of Guillermo Belmonte Müller, a relatively obscure Córdoban poet whose unusually refined literary upbringing led to an interest in languages and world travel, as well as a love of English and French poetry. It discusses some aspects of his Romantic spirit, which was physically expressed in the events of his life as well as in his poetry. An examination of some of his translations and adaptations of Shakespeare and Byron leads us to believe that he had a great interest in and love for English poetry and to conclude that Belmonte Müller was an assiduous translator, traveller and a decidedly unique cultural figure.

Este artículo aborda la vida literaria y la evolución poética de Guillermo Belmonte Müller, un escritor cordobés poco conocido cuya esmerada formación le permite desarrollar un interés en diversas lenguas, realizar viajes allende las fronteras así como cultivar su amor por la poesía francesa e inglesa. Este trabajo plantea algunos aspectos de su espíritu romántico los cuales se plasman tanto en acontecimientos de su vida como en la temática de su obra literaria. El análisis de algunas de sus traducciones de Shakespeare y de sus adaptaciones de Byron nos permite subrayar su interés en la poesía inglesa. Con todo, deducimos que Belmonte Müller es un traductor, un viajero y una figura cultural única