The National Library of Spain has published on its website the list of authors in its catalog whose work becomes public domain in 2025, among whom are the writers Manuel Chaves Nogales or Joaquín Álvarez Quintero.
After a process of studying the entries in the catalog of authors, the 2025 list is made up of 143 names, among which are writers, journalists, artists, musicians, and also scientists, historians, folklorists, professors or politicians, but only four women and two well-known names.
The list includes information on Spanish authors who died in 1944 whose works are in the National Library of Spain and who, 80 years after their death, can now be edited, reproduced or publicly disseminated.
Thus, starting in January 2025, a selection of royalty-free works by these authors will be available, openly and for free download in the Hispanic Digital Library.
Precisely, among the authors whose work will be free of rights in 2025 there are names as well-known as Manuel Chaves Nogales (Seville, 1897- London, 1944), one of the “most important” journalists of the first half of the 20th century, according to the BNE.
He is recognized for his travel chronicles and for his many interviews, in addition to writing the biography ‘Juan Belmonte, matador de toros’ and in his exile the book of stories ‘A sangre y fuego’.
There is also the work of Joaquín Álvarez Quintero (Utrera, 1873-Madrid, 1944), who together with his brother Serafín (died in 1938, whose works are also in the public domain), marked the theatrical taste of the early 20th century. In his production there are very diverse dramatic genres, although comedies, zarzuelas and sainetes predominate.
On the other hand, the only four women who appear on the 2025 list are Laura Albéniz (Barcelona, 1890-1944), who was a painter and illustrator, daughter of the musician Isaac Albéniz, and who introduced modernity to Spanish drawing and contributed to forging Noucentisme through personal works that at the same time knew how to perfectly capture the spirit of their time.
In addition, there is the work of the pedagogue and poet Maria Emília Furnó (Barcelona, 1877-1944), who directed the women’s center Institut Feminal and published the urbanity manual ‘Nocions d’urbanitat i Courtesy’, as well as several books of poems . The name of Emília Coranty Llurià (Barcelona, 1862-1944) also resonates, which is the first woman’s name that appears on the enrollment forms of the School of Arts and Crafts of Barcelona.
Precisely, Emília Coranty and Francisca Sans Benet de Montbrió are the only two students who appear enrolled during the school year of 1885-1886, among the 496 students that year.
Finally, the list is completed by Isolina Muíños Búa (Pontevedra, 1866-1944), writer and teacher, who published the ‘Atlas of General and Regional Geography for practical exercises in Normal Schools’ and collaborated in ‘El Progreso’ since 1917.