Lope de Vega (1562-1635), acknowledged as Spain's most lyrical and energetic dramatist, was a prolific and complusive writer. He treated an enormous range of subjects, often mingling comedy with tragedy, to the horror of the classicists, and defended his methods in his 'Arte nuevo de hacer comedias en este tiempe', published in 1609. David Johnston lives and works in Belfast. He has translated plays by Lorca, Buera Vallejo, Sastre, Lope de Vega, Calderon and Gil Vicente among others. He has written on various aspects of Spanish theatre as well as articles on Spanish politics and culture.