CAMPOAMOR Y CAMPOOSORIO, RAMN DE

born Sept. 24, 1817, Navia, Spain died Feb. 12, 1901, Madrid Spanish poet whose value lies in his expression of contemporary social attitudes. After studying Latin and philosophy, he went to Madrid, in 1838, to pursue a degree in medicine but turned to literature instead. Although his two early books, Ternezas y floras (1840; Endearments and Flowers) and Ayes del alma (1842; Laments of the Soul), show the influence of the Spanish Romantic poet Jos y Moral Zorrilla, he broke away from Romanticism with his book Doloras (1845), simple verses of worldly wisdom much like proverbs, which were thought to herald a breakthrough into new poetic forms. Later he published Pequeos poemas (1871; Little Poems) and Humoradas (1886; Pleasant Jokes). Most of his verse contains little more than sentimental philosophy cloaked in a rhymed prose of affected simplicity.