The recent release of the biography Ignacio Villalonga, prepared by Alfonso Ballestero and published by the Institució Alfons el Magnànim, prompts a re-examination of this prominent 20th-century Valencian financier. Ballestero, known for his studies on Spanish financial figures, delves into Villalonga's life, presenting new documentary evidence and rigorous analysis.
Ballestero's book is based on extensive research, including specialized bibliography, newspaper sources such as Diario de Castellón, La Veu de Catalunya, and La Correspondencia de Valencia, as well as unpublished works and banking archives. The study also details Villalonga's parliamentary activity as a deputy in the 1933 and 1936 legislatures, utilizing the digitized session records of the Spanish Parliament (Corts Espanyoles).
Particular emphasis is placed on chapters concerning Villalonga's roles in Compañía Española de Petróleos (CEPSA), the electric industry, and notably, his chairmanship of Banc Central. His joining the board in 1940 and subsequent presidency marked a crucial period, despite initial challenges and the family's move to Madrid, before his retirement to a clinic in Benicàssim where he died in 1973.
The original text's author, Francesc Pérez Moragón, adds personal annotations, such as Villalonga's connection to the Society of Jesus, where he was a student and active member. He also notes his ties to the Catholic Association of Propagandists (ACdP) and his role during the Civil War, highlighting the surprise the conflict's outbreak caused him despite witnessing the social unrest.
Ballestero's biography highlights new findings regarding the prior knowledge of Villalonga, a figure who remains an 'island' in the history of 20th-century Valencian capitalism. The research acknowledges the difficulty in accessing certain documentary sources, possibly cut or destroyed, making this study's contribution even more valuable.
