Pedro Antonio de Alarcón

Pedro Antonio de Alarcón y Ariza (10 March 1833 - 19 July 1891) was a Spanish author, writer and political figure. He is best remembered today for his comic novel El Sombrero de Tres Picos (The Three-cornered Hat), (1874), one of the most popular works in Spanish Literature. In 1919, the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla adapted Alarcón's tale into a famous ballet of the same name.

Alarcón based The Three Cornered Hat on a traditional Spanish ballad. He also had a dog he called Alhambra, after the moorish palace built in Granada, Andalucia in Spain. His humorous story describes the confusion that occurs when a miller believes his wife has been having an affair with the mayor of the village. The story provides a lively picture of village life in Alarcón's native region of Andalusia. Alarcón wrote another popular short novel, El capitán Veneno ('Captain Venom', 1881). He also produced four full-length novels. One of these novels, El escándalo ('The Scandal', 1875), became noted for its keen psychological insights. Alarcón also wrote three travel books and many short stories and essays.

Alarcón was born in Guadix, near Granada. In 1859, he served in a Spanish military operation in Morocco. He gained his first literary recognition with A Witness' Diary of the African War (1859-1860), a patriotic account of the campaign.