Espronceda, José De

(hōsā´ dā āsprōnthā´thä), 1808–42, Spanish romantic poet. Involved in radical intrigue from the age of 14, he suffered imprisonment and was twice exiled. His Poesías (1840) brought him lasting fame. Of Espronceda's other major works, the long poem El estudiante de Salamanca is based on the Don Juan theme. The celebrated El diablo mundo (1841) contains the passionate “Canto a Teresa.” Espronceda's verse is characterized by a sonorous and emotional quality.