OBITUARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 93, 30 January 1928, Page 4

OBITUARY.

VICENTE BLASCO IBANEZ. LONDON, January 29. Vicente Blasco Ibanez, the Spanish, historical novelist, died at. Nice from bronchitis and pneumonia, complicated by diabetes. . ' \ ' •>'.' GRIEVED OVER LONG EXILE. MENTONE, January 29. Senor Ibanez died at the beautiful, villa of Fantana Rosa. Sorrow over his prolonged exile from his native land ■ is believed to have undermined his constitution. Latterly he divided his time between the famous garden which he intended to bequeath to the writers of the world and his new book, which heintended to name, "The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse." In connectionwith the book he attended the last Assembly at Geneva to obtain local colour. His sons arrived by aeroplane before his death, but his daughter and her husband were late. The novelist wished to be buried at Mentone, saying he did not want his body to be taken . to- - Spain, so long as the present regime existed. TRIBUTES IN SPAIN. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) MADRID, January 29. Newspapers of all shades pay tribute to Senor Ibanez. More than 4000 telegrams were despatched to Mentone, and many delegates are going thither. Vicente Blasco Ibanez was born in 1867. His publications include: "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," "Soinmica," "Blood and Sand," "Enemies of Woman," "The Mad Virgins," etc., many of which have been filmed'. In 1925 he wrote "Alfonso XIII. Unmasked," a vigorous attack on the King and General Prmo de "Rivera's - dictatorship, and became engaged in an agitation for a change of Government, in consequence of which he was forced to leave Spain. In 1927 he made a, tour - of the world, spending much time 9* Hollywood, where he personally superintended the production of the firm version of some of his works. It was the film of "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" that did most 1o gam . for him a -world wide reputation. All - his more important novels have been translated into English. -■ /