One hundred years ago, in 1913, Miguel de Unamuno published a book called The Tragic Sense of Life. It was considered - in his time - to be a masterpiece, an influential work of early existentialist philosophy. But The Tragic Sense of Life is more (or you might say less) than a work of philosophy. It is a deeply personal account of one man's anguish in the night. (TheSmartSet.com)

Miguel de Unamuno is to-day the greatest literary figure of Spain. Baroja may surpass him in variety of external experience, Azor n in delicate art, Ortega y Gasset in philosophical subtlety, Ayala in intellectual elegance, Valle Incl n in rhythmical grace. Even in vitality he may have to yield the first place to that over-whelming athlete of literature, Blasco Ib ez. But Unamuno is head and shoulders above them all in the highness of his purpose and in the earnestness and loyalty with which, Quixote-like, he has served all through his life his unattainable Dulcinea. S. DE MADARIAGA