Hero in focus Rosalía de Castro Five things you need to know about the groundbreaking Spanish writer – our latest tail fin hero

María Rosalía Rita de Castro was born 1 in 1837 in Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, northern Spain. Her father was a priest and her mother an impoverished noblewoman. From an early age Castro enjoyed music and drawing, and read widely, especially translated poetry, including works by Byron and Heine.

Castro moved to Madrid in 1856 and published 2 her first book of poetry, La Flor (The Flower), written in Castilian Spanish, a year later. Although she wrote a number of prose works throughout her career, she is most admired for her lyrical poems.

In 1858 she married historian Manuel 3 Murguía, who had favourably reviewed La Flor and went on to edit her books. The couple had seven children between 1859 and 1877, but two died in infancy and none had any children themselves, so the writer has no living descendants.

4 On 17 May 1863, Castro published Cantares Gallegos (Galician Songs), her first collection of poetry in Galician, marking the Galician literary revival known as the Rexurdimento. Since 1963 the publication date has been commemorated as the Día das Letras Galegas (Galician Literature Day), and is an official holiday in the region.

A strong supporter of women’s rights and 5 defender of the poor, Castro’s life was marked by ill health and she died in 1885. She is buried in the pantheon of notable Galicians in the Convent of San Domingos de Bonaval in Santiago.

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Castro’s legacy all over the world… and beyond!

Public memorials Place names Cultural centres Familiar face This statue was erected Castro is commemorated Theatres as far afield as She was the second in Padrón, Galicia, to in the names of streets, Venezuela bear her name, woman from history – mark Castro’s childhood parks, squares and as well as a dance/music after Queen Isabella I – to in the town, but there are institutions around the school and venue in Cuba, be portrayed on a Spanish statues and busts of her world. Even a crater on the Sociedad Cultural banknote, appearing on all over the region. Venus is named after her. Rosalía de Castro. the old 500 peseta note. PICTORIAL PRESS LTD/ALAMY PRESS PICTORIAL

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