José María Gabriel y Galán was born on the morning of 28 June in Frades de la Sierra (Salamanca) to parents Narciso and Bernarda.

He was the fourth of five siblings – Enriqueta, Carlota, Baldomero, José María and Luis – born into a comfortably off family.

He studied to be a teacher, working as one in Guijuelo (1889-1892) and Piedrahita (1892-1898).

In the summer of 1891 he was invited by his uncle, Juan Antonio Rivero Galán and his wife, Natalia García Vidal to their home in Guijo de Granadilla. Desideria, their niece and a native of the nearby town of Granadilla, lived with them.

The Riveros, who owned a large estate, were unable to have children of their own, so they devoted themselves to raising and educating Desideria.

José María proposed “a personal relationship for the future” to which the beautiful Extremaduran responded “Yes, I accept”.

The courtship lasted for several years, during which the poet returned to Extremadura frequently to see his fiancée and indulge in one of his favourite pastimes: hunting.

They married on 26 January 1898 in the Church of St. Stephen in Plasencia.

At the end of October 1898, the poet gave up teaching and settled in Guijo with his wife, where he went to work in his uncle’s business.

“I married a young woman from Extremadura. I resigned from the position I held because my hobbies were all in the countryside, where my life is devoted to the cultivation of some land and the care and affection of my people”, writes the poet to Emilia Pardo Bazán.

The family grew with the births of Jesús, Juan and Esteban.

The Madrid-based Catholic weekly, La Lectura Dominical, published Adoración in April 1899.

On 30 June of that same year, his mother Bernarda died. He won the Floral Games in Salamanca with El Ama, a poem dedicated to his mother. This triumph encouraged him to continue participating in poetry contests, going on to win in Zaragoza, Murcia, Béjar and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

His first book, Poesías, published by Father Tomás Cámara, Bishop of Salamanca, was followed by Castellanas, Extremeñas and Campesinas.

Extremeñas is a unique book written in Castúo, the Spanish dialect of the poet’s adopted land.

But time was running out for our beloved Galán.

José María died at 1:20 PM on 6 January 1905. He was 34 years old. His death certificate lists the cause of death as cerebral-gastric nervous fever.

Despite his death at a young age, he left a permanent legacy in Guijo.

The house where he lived has been converted into a House-Museum. It is open to the public with free guided tours.

The annual “Gabriel y Galán” Poetry Contest featuring poems in Spanish and Castúo is now in its 39th year.

In the month of May there is a cultural week celebration that draws people from a variety of cultural disciplines to our town. It has been attended by:

• • – Novelists such as Jesús Sánchez-Adalid, Eugenio Fuentes, Luis García Jambrina, Alonso de la Torre, etc.
  • – Poets such as Álvaro Valverde, José Manuel Regalado, Daniel Casado, Álex Chico, etc.
  • – Historians such as Enrique Moradiellos, Chaves Palacios, Miguel Ángel Melón, José Hinojosa, García Carrero, etc.
  • – Theatre
  • – Music….

This year, the 32nd edition of Cultural Week will take place from 6-12 May. In the end, the poet lives on in the memory of Guijo and its people.

In the end, the poet lives on in the memory of Guijo and its people.

Juan José Barrios Sánchez

Casa-Museo “Gabriel y Galán”