Góngora, Luis de

Góngora (y Argote), Luis de

(born July 11, 1561, Córdoba, Spain—died May 23, 1627, Córdoba) Spanish poet. Very influential in his era, he developed the difficult, complex poetic style that became known as gongorismo; it provoked scorn and enmity from many of his contemporaries and was so exaggerated by less gifted imitators that his reputation suffered until the 20th century, when his poems began to be appreciated for their cold beauty. Solitudes (1613) is perhaps his most outstanding work in the style. His lighter poetry—romances (folk ballads), letrillas (short lyric poems), and sonnets—achieved greater popular success.