The Purgatory of St Patrick Author:Pedro Calderon de la Barca Pedro Calderón de la Barca was a dramatist of the Spanish Golden Age which occurred in the 1600's. Calderon was educated in a Jesuit college with plans to become a priest, but instead he studied law. Over two decades he wrote 70 secular plays for the commercial theatre. The Purgatory of St. Patrick is considered the best Spanish play of the 17th... more » century. The play is based on the life of St Patrick.« less