Fortunata y Jacinta

About “Fortunata y Jacinta”

Fortunata y Jacinta was written by Benito Pérez Galdós in 1887 and published the same year. Alongside La Regenta by Leopoldo Alas y Ureña, it is considered one of the most important works of Spanish literary realism. Galdós, born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, moved to Madrid at age 18 to study law. His work often reflected the society he observed in the capital. The novel was controversial when it was released due to its critical view of the Spanish middle class and its open treatment of sexuality. Although it faced criticism from political and religious figures, it was praised by other writers for its realistic portrayal of life across social classes in 19th century Madrid. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)