María Zambrano Alarcón (b. Vélez-Málaga, Spain, 1904 – d. 1991, Madrid, Spain) was a Spanish intellectual, philosopher, and essayist. Due to political reasons, Zambrano lived in exile in France, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Italy. Her extensive work, from civic engagement to poetic thought, prominently featured her advocacy for women’s rights. However, her work was only recognized in Spain in the last quarter of the 20th century when she received the two highest literary awards bestowed in the country: the Prince of Asturias Award in 1981 and the Cervantes Prize in 1988.
