Introduction.The First Book: Between the Leyenda and the Persona

An Introduction to the Special Issue Writing Now: The First Book in Modern and Contemporary Spanish Poetry. Starting with the notion of ‘the first book’, the authors trace the notion of ‘the first book’ in modern and contemporary Spanish poetry, showing how it is a significant concept in literary criticism and historiography. They argue that the contributions to the Special Issue, all of which concentrate on the first books of well-known poets, can afford us new perspectives on Spanish poetry.