born July 11, 1561, Córdoba, Spain
died May 23, 1627, Córdoba
Spanish poet.
Very influential in his era, he developed the difficult, complex poetic style that became known as gongorismo ; it provoked scorn and enmity from many of his contemporaries and was so exaggerated by less gifted imitators that his reputation suffered until the 20th century, when his poems began to be appreciated for their cold beauty. Solitudes (1613) is perhaps his most outstanding work in the style. His lighter poetry
romances (folk ballads), letrillas (short lyric poems), and sonnets
achieved greater popular success.