A Female Fraudster in Restoration Spain: Galdós's Cánovas and the Curious Case of Doña Baldomera Larra's Ponzi Scheme. (2nd November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ridao Carlini, Inma
• Is Part Of: Hispanic research journal. Volume 22:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 578
• Page End: 594
• Publication Date: 2021-11-02
• Subjects: Cánovas -- Baldomera Larra -- Restoration Spain -- Ponzi scheme -- fraud; Cánovas -- Baldomera Larra -- España de la Restauración -- esquema piramidal -- fraude; Language and culture -- Spanish-speaking countries -- Periodicals; Language and culture -- Portuguese-speaking countries -- Periodicals; Spanish philology -- Periodicals; Portuguese philology -- Periodicals; Spain -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Portugal -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Latin America -- Civilization -- Periodicals; 909.097561
• DOI: 10.1080/14682737.2022.2079847
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-2737

Abstract

Abstract: This article analyses Galdós's account in Cánovas of the historical financial fraud perpetrated in the 1870s by Baldomera Larra, youngest daughter of the writer Mariano José de Larra. It studies the contemporary press coverage of the rise and fall of Doña Baldomera's Ponzi scheme in order to reach a better understanding of the role which Galdós assigns to this historical fraud. In Cánovas, the scheme becomes an emblem of the speculative economy of Restoration Spain. The article shows that, despite his progressive detachment from political history, Galdós remains a sharp critic of the society of his time in this final episodio .