He lived in exile until 1930, first banned to Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), from where he escaped to France. Unamuno was removed from his post by the government in 1924, to the protest of other Spanish intellectuals. He served as rector of the University of Salamanca for two periods: from 1900 to 19 to 1936, during a time of great social and political upheaval. In addition to his writing, Unamuno played an important role in the intellectual life of Spain. There is some debate as to whether Unamuno was in fact a member of the Generation of '98 (an ex post facto literary group of Spanish intellectuals and philosophers that was the creation of José Martínez Ruiz - a group that includes Antonio Machado, Azorín, Pío Baroja, Ramón del Valle-Inclán, Ramiro de Maeztu and Ángel Ganivet, among others).

Unamuno worked in all major genres: the essay, the novel, poetry and theatre, and, as a modernist, contributed greatly to dissolving the boundaries between genres. The contest was finally won by the Basque scholar Resurrección María de Azcue. As a young man, he was interested in the Basque language, and competed for a teaching position in the Instituto de Bilbao, against Sabino Arana. He establishes, however, that this would not be feasible.įollowing on from his translation of Abel Sanchez, John Macklin's edition provides a much needed new English translation, alongside the Spanish text, together with a substantial introduction.Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo was born in the medieval centre of Bilbao, Basque Country, the son of Félix de Unamuno and Salomé Jugo. Augusto dies and the book ends with the author himself debating to himself about bringing back the character of Augusto.

Augusto reminds Unamuno that he might be just one of God's dreams. Augusto asserts that he exists, even though he acknowledges internally that he doesn't, and threatens Unamuno by telling him that he is not the ultimate author. Augusto is not real, Unamuno explains, and for that reason cannot kill himself. When Augusto speaks with Unamuno, the truth is revealed that Augusto is actually a fictional character whom Unamuno has created.

Augusto decides to kill himself, but decides that he needs to consult Unamuno himself, who had written an article on suicide which Augusto had read. The plot revolves around the character of Augusto, a wealthy, intellectual and introverted young man and his love affair with Eugenia, which eventually ends in heartbreak. Mist (Niebla), published in 1914, is one of Miguel de Unamuno's key works a truly Modernist work of Europe-wide significance which aims to shatter the conventions of fiction, using the novel as a vehicle for exploration of philosophical themes.

Mist miguel de unamuno