Joseph Pérez was born inLaroque-d'Olmes in theAriège department, which is in the south of France near the Spanish border. His parents were Spaniards who emigrated fromBocairent in Valencia. In 1955, he was named a lecturer of Spanish by the Superior University ofSaint-Cloud. He completed his doctoral thesis in 1970. His thesis studied theRevolt of the Comuneros, and remains one of the leading scholarly books on the topics.
Pérez became a professor of Spanish and Hispanic American civilization at theUniversity of Bordeaux 3. Pérez also served as a member of theDirectorio del Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).
Pérez has worked to spread French and Spanish culture in both directions. He founded theLa Maison des Pays Iberiques, a center for Spanish culture in France, and between 1989 and 1996 Pérez directed theCasa de Velázquez in Madrid, a French cultural institution funded by the French government dedicated to supporting interplay between France and Hispanic cultures.
Pérez died on 8 October 2020 inBordeaux, aged 89.[1]
Joseph Pérez challenges the notion of decadence that is associated with Spain in the 17th and 18th centuries. For him, thisBlack Legend is a distorted image due to the views held by the Protestant countries of northern Europe.[3]
On 25 January 2007 the board of the Municipality ofBocairent voted unanimously to grant Pérez the title of "Adopted son of Bocairent." Bocairent was the birthplace of his parents and his three brothers. The ceremony celebrating the event was held on March 30, 2007 at the town hall.[2][4]
Aside from books, Pérez wrote numerous articles, especially inBulletin Hispanique, such as his well-received notes and introduction toEl caballero de Olmedo byLope de Vega.
La révolution des "Comunidades" de Castille (1520-1521) Bordeaux: Institut d'Etudes Ibériques et Ibero-Américaines de l'Université, 1970, translated asLa revolución de las comunidades de Castilla (1520-1521), Madrid: Siglo XXI de España, 1978 (The revolution of theComunidades of Castile (1520-1521))
Los movimientos precursores de la emancipación en Hispanoamérica, Madrid: Alhambra, Madrid: Alhambra, 1977. (Precursor movements to the emancipation of Latin America)
Histoire de l'Espagne, Paris: Fayard, 1997, translated asHistoria de España, Barcelona: Crítica, 1999. (History of Spain)
Isabel y Fernando, los Reyes Católicos, Fuenterrabía: Nerea, 2001 (Isabella and Ferdinand, the Catholic Monarchs)
Historia de una tragedia: la expulsión de los judíos de España, Barcelona: Crítica, 1993 (History of a tragedy: The Expulsion of the Jews of Spain)
El humanismo de Fray Luis de León, Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 1994. (The humanism of Luis de León)
Lope de Vega,El caballero de Olmedo; edición, introducción y notas de Joseph Pérez. Madrid: Castalia, 1970 (The gentleman of Olmedo)
Charles Quint: empereur des deux mondes, coll. "Découvertes Gallimard" (nº 197), París: Gallimard, 1994, translated to Spanish asCarlos V, Madrid: Temas de Hoy, 1999. (Charles V: Emperor of Two Worlds / Charles V)
L'Espagne de Philippe II Paris: Le grand livre du mois, 1999; translated to Spanish asLa España de Felipe II, Barcelona: Crítica, 2000. (The Spain of Philip II)
L'Espagne des Rois Catholiques Paris: Bordas, 1971 (The Spain of the Catholic Monarchs)
L'Espagne du XVIe siècle Paris: Armand Colin, 1973, later updated asLa España del siglo XVI, Madrid: Anaya, 1998 (The Spain of the 16th century)
Isabelle et Ferdinand, Rois Catholiques d'Espagne Paris: Fayard, 1988, translated to Spanish asIsabel y Fernando, los Reyes Católicos (Madrid: Nerea, 1997.ISBN84-89569-12-6) (Isabella and Ferdinand, the Catholic Monarchs)
Crónica de la Inquisición en España, Barcelona: Martínez Roca, 2002 (Chronicle of the Inquisition in Spain)
Isabelle la Catholique: un modèle de chrétienté? Paris: Payot & Rivages, 2004 (Isabel la Católica : ¿un modelo de cristiandad? ALMED 2007ISBN978-84-935857-0-9) (Isabella the Catholic: A model of Christianity?)
Los judíos en España, Madrid: Marcial Pons, 2005ISBN84-96467-03-1 (The Jews of Spain)
La Inquisición española: crónica negra del Santo Oficio, Madrid: Martínez Roca, 2005ISBN84-270-3174-2 (The Spanish Inquisition: The black history of the Holy Office)
De l'humanisme aux Lumières: études sur l'Espagne et l'Amérique, Madrid: Casa de Velázquez, 2000. (Of the Humanism of the Enlightenment: Studies of Spain and America)
