The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Montalvan, Juan Perez de

MONTALVAN, Juan Perez de, a Spanish dramatist, born in Madrid in 1602, died in June, 1638. His father was bookseller to the king, and the son became a licentiate in theology at the age 17. He enjoyed the instruction of Lope de Vega, and very early wrote for the stage. At the age of 30 he had written 36 dramas and 12 autos sacramentales; and he became crazy from overwork. He left about 60 plays (Alcalá, 1638; Madrid, 1639). He wrote Orfeo, a poem (1624); “Life and Purgatory of St. Patrick” (1627); a collection of stories Para todos (“For Everybody,” 1632); and a panegyric on Lope de Vega (1636).