


When she was four years old, she almost died of an illness, and was taken to live with her grandparents in San Mansilla de la Sierra, a small town in the mountains, for a period of convalescence. Matute spent a considerable amount of time in Madrid during her childhood as well, but few of her stories are set there. Her father, Facundo Matute, owned an umbrella factory and has been credited with inspiring his daughter's creativity.

When she was four years old, she almost d Ana María Matute Ausejo was born in Barcelona, Spain, the second of five children in a conservative middle class family. Ana María Matute Ausejo was born in Barcelona, Spain, the second of five children in a conservative middle class family.
