MENENDEZ Y PELAYO, MARCELINO

born Nov. 3, 1856, Santander, Spain died May 19, 1912, Santander Spanish literary critic and historian, remarkable for his vast erudition and his elegant and flexible prose. Although some of his judgments are no longer accepted, his studies of medieval, Renaissance, and Golden Age Spanish literature are still invaluable. The range and profundity of his knowledge enabled him to make valuable assessments of the Hispanic contribution to Western literature. He was professor of Spanish literature at Madrid (187898) and director of the Biblioteca Nacional (18981912); his private library (of 45,000 volumes), which he bequeathed to Santander, forms part of the Biblioteca de Menndez y Pelayo. His works are available in the Edicin nacional de las obras completas de Menndez y Pelayo, 43 vol. (194046).