Ramón J. Sender Plaque

Was Ramón J. Sender a man of contradictions? He was a literary giant, yet often overlooked in his own country. Here at the Ramón J. Sender Plaque, affixed to the building where he lived and wrote “Mr. Witt en el Cantón”, we unravel the complexities of this remarkable man. The plaque, with its inscription “En esta casa vivi\u00f3 entre 1935 y 1936 el escritor RAM\u00d3N J. SENDER y aqu\u00ed escribi\u00f3 MISTER WITT EN EL CANT\u00d3N”, marks a pivotal period in Sender’s life. Born in 1902, Sender’s early years were marked by a difficult relationship with his father, yet he found solace in his mother’s affection and a deep connection to his Aragonese roots. His rebellious spirit led him to Madrid at just 17, where he faced homelessness, sleeping in Retiro Park. He washed in the park fountain and at the Ateneo, a cultural hub that became his sanctuary for reading and writing. Ramón J. Sender’s early literary career blossomed in this challenging environment. He published articles and stories in newspapers like El Imparcial and El País, using pseudonyms. Even with this income, he struggled financially and worked as a pharmacy assistant to afford shelter. His time in Madrid shaped his writing, influenced by the city’s vibrant intellectual and political scene. Sender’s life was marked by both literary success and political activism. He won the National Prize for Literature for “Mr. Witt en el Cantón” in 1935, a novel exploring rebellion through the detached perspective of an Englishman. His involvement in anarchist groups led to imprisonment during Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship. This experience fueled his social commentary, evident in works like “Imán”, a critique of the Moroccan War, and “O.P. (Orden Público)”, which addressed police brutality. The Spanish Civil War irrevocably changed Ramón J. Sender. He fought for the Republicans, while his wife and children sought refuge in Zamora. Tragically, his wife was executed by the Nationalists, a devastating loss that haunted him. He managed to get his children to safety in France before going into exile himself, first to Mexico, then the United States, where he continued writing and teaching. The Ramón J. Sender Plaque on this building serves as a reminder of his time in Madrid before the war, a time of literary achievement and political turmoil. It is a testament to a complex figure, a writer who captured the essence of Spain’s struggles through his powerful prose.