Initially embarking on an ecclesiastical career, Calderon abandoned this to take a position in the service of the Constable of Castille. He began to write plays in 1623 for the court of Philip IV, some of which were performed in public. This brought him public attention and on the death of Lope de Vega in 1635, Spain's eminent playwright, Calderon succeeded him in the public eye. During his career, Calderon wrote over 120 plays, the best known of which is Vida es Sueno. Some of his other important work includes The Garden of Falerina (1648), The Phantom Lady (1629), Silence is Golden (1639), The Mayor of Zalamea (1640) and Echo and Narcissus (1661). Calderon also wrote more than 70 autos, religious dramatic presentations, which represented some of his best work. Calderon returned to the church and was ordained in 1651 and in 1663 he was appointed an honorary chaplain to the King. |
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