born Dec. 28, 1872, San Sebastián, Spain
died Oct. 30, 1956, Madrid
Basque writer.
He wrote 11 trilogies dealing with contemporary social problems, the best known of which is The Struggle for Life (1904). His most ambitious project was a long cycle of works about a 19th-century insurgent and his era. He wrote almost 100 novels, including Zalacaín el aventurero (1909). Because of his anti-Christian views, stubborn insistence on nonconformity, and somewhat pessimistic tone, he never achieved great popularity. He is considered the foremost Spanish novelist of his time.