Jovellanos: Translator of English Poetry in Andalusia

Abstract

Jovellanos arrived in Seville in March 1768, at the age of 24. He lived in the city for a decade, after gaining the position of Alcalde del Crimen in the Real Audiencia of Seville. There he came into contact with Pablo de Olavide, for whose tutelage he entered El delincuente honrado into a competition. This sentimental comedy shows the influence of Destouches, Chausee and Diderot. In Seville, Jovellanos learned English, in order to be able to enjoy English literature in its original language. He developed an interest in Anglo-Saxon poets such as Milton, Dryden, Pope and Young, among others. He translated the first canto of Paradise Lost while still living in Seville, marking a significant development in the history of translation in Spain. This study will investigate the Andalusian period of the Asturian neoclassical reformer, focusing specifically on his great skill in translating the work of Milton and examining its pioneering role in Spanish literature. With this contribution, we aim to demonstrate some of the great value of Jovellanos’ poetical and intercultural legacy.