THE VIEW OF THE OTHER: RICARDO PALMA AND SPAIN

There are many writings about how English and French have seen Spain, but not so much about the point of view of the Hispanic community. In 1892, Ricardo Palma came to the Peninsula during the splendor of the IV Centenary of the Discovery of America. Through his books and his correspondence, it is possible to reconstruct a lucid analysis of a country in crisis, before and after the critical juncture of 1898. His relations with important politicians and intellectuals reflect the difficulties between the old metropolis, reminiscent of imperial glories, and republics in search of a modernizing reference.