Tomás Serrano

TOMÁS SERRANO (Castalla, Alicante, 1715-Bologna, 1784).
"The apostle of Europe".
Printer; Widow of José de Orga, Valencia, 1762.
With engravings.
In good condition.
Measurements: 21 x 15.5 x 5 cm.
Tomás Serrano y Pérez was an outstanding humanist, poet and Jesuit professor whose life reflects the brilliance and difficulties of the Spanish enlightened culture. Of humble origin, he entered the Society of Jesus and soon stood out as a teacher of rhetoric and professor of theology. His literary talent, especially in Latin, made him a recognized figure, capable of combining classical erudition with critical sensitivity. However, his career was marked by the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767, which led him to exile in Italy, where he continued his intellectual work.
A passionate defender of the Hispanic literary tradition, he responded firmly to the criticisms of foreign authors, vindicating figures such as Marco Valerio Marcial. His work, largely dispersed or lost, ranged from erudite studies to Latin poetry of great refinement, standing out for his rigor, his critical spirit and his love for classical literature. Serrano thus embodies the intellectual committed to his time: a scholar who, even in exile, brilliantly defended the value of Spanish culture.