The Strife of Tongues

Fray Luis de León (1527–91) is known chiefly as the author of some of the finest poetry of the Spanish Golden Age, but he also wrote important prose works in both Latin and Spanish, and produced eloquent translations into Spanish of biblical and classical texts. He spent five years imprisoned in solitary confinement by the Spanish Inquisition, fighting to clear himself of a series of accusations against his views on the Bible. Acquitted on all counts, he returned to teach at the University of Salamanca. This book examines the controversies in which Fray Luis was caught up, and investigates the complex influences upon his writings of his prison experiences, his indebtedness to Judaism, his interests as a linguist, and his work as a biblical scholar and theologian. Colin Thompson looks afresh at Fray Luis's most famous poems and prose works, and explores his understanding of language as a means of enabling God to speak to humanity and humanity to rise to God.