Granada, emotional guide: The story of María de la O Lejárraga

A Journey Through Time: Granada, Emotional Guide

We step back in time to rediscover a remarkable book: Granada, Emotional Guide. Written for tourists visiting the city of the Alhambra in the early 20th century, this historical document reveals the intertwined lives of María de la O Lejárraga and Gregorio Martínez Sierra. United by their mutual passion for theatre, they lived in Spain during the first decades of the last century, leaving behind an enduring cultural legacy.

A Guide with a Unique Approach

What makes Granada, Emotional Guide distinctive is its feminine voice and explicit focus on women. Its pages combine emotional insights with practical tips for female travellers. Yet, in that era, it was uncommon for women to travel unaccompanied; most journeys were made with husbands, brothers, or fathers. Consequently, some scholars believe the guide may have been crafted for a then-taboo audience: homosexual men, concealed under the guise of a women’s travel book.

Considered by many to be the first guide written for this community, it bears the signature of Gregorio Martínez Sierra, a Spanish Modernist writer, playwright, and theatre entrepreneur.

María de la O Lejárraga: A Life Committed to Equality

Gregorio’s wife, María de la O Lejárraga, was a teacher from La Rioja with a deep love for literature. Born in the late 19th century, she lived in a period when women’s involvement in writing and other intellectual pursuits was socially frowned upon. Her connection to Granada was profound; in 1933, she was elected to the Spanish Congress representing the city and appointed vice president of the Public Education Commission.

As a committed feminist, she championed equal rights and opportunities for women and those with limited means. Her dedication to social justice, alongside her membership in the Socialist Party, defined her career. Following the Spanish Civil War, she went into exile in Argentina, where she died in 1974—exactly one hundred years after her birth.

An Authorship in the Shadows

Their marriage is shrouded in gaps and unspoken truths. It was only in 1953, after their separation, that María published her memoir Gregorio and I: Half a Century of Collaboration. In this revealing work, she disclosed that every book credited to her husband had, in fact, been written by her. Although Gregorio acknowledged her co-authorship in writing, he never relinquished his rights.

Remarkably, even after they parted ways, Gregorio continued to commission texts from María. She would send them from Argentina, and he would publish them under his own name.

Pioneers of Spanish Theatre

Despite the controversies, both are recognised as pioneers of key cultural movements in pre–Civil War Spain. Together, they launched literary magazines such as Vida Moderna, Helios, and Renacimiento. They also founded the Teatro del Arte, drawing inspiration from Paul Fort’s Théâtre d’Art, Lugné Poe’s Théâtre de l’Oeuvre, and the Moscow Art Theatre of Meyerhold and Stanislavski.

They surrounded themselves with some of the most influential artists of the era. For instance, Manuel de Falla was introduced to the Alhambra by María, leading to the creation of works like El amor brujo and The Three-Cornered Hat. They also enjoyed close friendships with poets such as Juan Ramón Jiménez and Federico García Lorca. Yet, public acclaim largely went to Gregorio, while María remained unacknowledged.

A Legacy That Crossed Borders

María’s talent reached beyond the works signed by her husband. Evidence shows she also authored plays such as Eduardo Marquina’s The Peacock. During her exile, she sought opportunities in Hollywood, presenting Walt Disney with her script Merlin and Viviana. Although she received no reply, Disney later released Lady and the Tramp, a film with clear parallels to her story.

Tribute to a Silenced Woman

This article honours María de la O Lejárraga—an intellectual, writer, playwright, translator, and activist. She was a woman who, like so many others, was silenced by history but whose voice continues to resonate today.