Ramalho Ortigão
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Ramalho Ortigão (October 24, 1836 - September 27, 1915) was a Portuguese writer of the late 19th century. He spent his early years with his maternal grandmother in Oporto.
Ortigão studied law in the University of Coimbra but never finished the course. After returning to his home town he taught French in a college run by his father; among his students was Eça de Queirós.
In 1862 he dedicated himself to journalism and became a literary critic on the Diário do Porto; he also contributed to several literary magazines.
At this period romanticism was the dominant trend in Portuguese literature, led by several major writers including Camilo Castelo Branco and Soares de Passos, who influenced Ortigão. In the 1870s, a group of students from Coimbra began to promote new ideas in a reaction against romanticism. This group, eventually called the 70 Generation, was to have a major influence on Portuguese literature. As a supporter of romanticism, Ortigão became involved in a struggle against them and even fought a duel with Antero de Quental. In spite of this early opposition he afterwards became friendly with some members of the group. It was at this period that he wrote O Mistério da Estrada de Sintra and created the satirical journal As Farpas, both in collaboration with Eça de Queirós. When Queirós became a diplomat, initially in Cuba, Ortigão continued As Farpas alone.
Ortigão also worked as a translator. In 1874 he produced a Portuguese translation of the English satirical novel Ginx's Baby by Edward Jenkins.
Ramalho Ortigão died in Lisbon on September 27, 1915.
