Mateo Aleman, a Spanish novelist, born in Seville about the middle of the 10th century, died probably in Mexico. In 1568 he was commissioner of finance in his native land, but being falsely accused of maladministration, he was removed from public service, and suffered a long imprisonment. He then betook himself to literature. The first volume of a humorous romance, entitled La vida y hechos del picaro Guzman de Alfarache, which he published in 1599, passed through 26 editions within the following six years, besides being translated into the French and Italian. A continuation appeared in 1003, which Aleman repudiated; and the genuine second part was published in Valencia in 1005, but the work was never completed. Aleman afterward went to Mexico, but of his subsequent career nothing is known.