20th Century Spanish Literature

Posted on Oct 9, 2024 in Latin

Juan Ramón Jiménez (1881-1958)

Born in Moguer (Huelva), Juan Ramón Jiménez won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1956. A poet aligned with the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War, he lived in exile and died in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Jiménez pioneered a new understanding of poetry, stripped of sentimentality and imperfection, influencing the Generation of ’27. His poetic career is divided into three stages:

  1. Sensory Stage (1898-1915): Influenced by Bécquer, Symbolism, and Modernism, this stage features landscape descriptions reflecting the poet’s soul. Works include Arias Tristes and Soledades.
  2. Intellectual Stage (1916-1936): Marked by a trip to America and the discovery of the sea as a central symbol, this stage reflects a spiritual evolution towards transcendence through poetic beauty. Works include Diario de un poeta recién casado, Piedra y cielo, and Estación total.
  3. Ultimate or True Stage (1937-1958): This stage encompasses his works written in exile, continuing his search for beauty and perfection. Works include Animal de fondo and Dios deseado y deseando.

Federico García Lorca (1898-1936)

Born in Fuente Vaqueros (Granada), Federico García Lorca studied law, philosophy, and literature. Considered the most international author of the Generation of ’27, he was executed in 1936. His accessible works and passionate poems have made him a prominent figure in Spanish literature. Key works include:

  • Libro de poemas: Early poems marked by youthful themes.
  • Canciones: Short, colorful poems with a musical and childlike tone.
  • Poema del cante jondo: Poems recreating popular Andalusian folk songs.
  • Romancero gitano: Eighteen ballads revolving around the Gypsy community.
  • Llanto por Ignacio Sánchez Mejías: A lament for his friend, the bullfighter Ignacio Sánchez Mejías.
  • Poeta en Nueva York: Surrealist poems with social criticism written during his stay in New York.
  • Diván del Tamarit: Reflects Lorca’s attraction to the Eastern world.

Camilo José Cela (1916-2002)

Born in A Coruña, Camilo José Cela won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1989. He is known for his extensive novelistic work, including:

  • La familia de Pascual Duarte (1942): A novel reflecting the pessimism in post-Civil War Spain, known for its innovative plot and rural language.
  • La colmena (1951): Cela’s most important work, depicting a few days in Madrid in 1942 through interconnected stories and an objectivist narrative style.

Miguel Delibes (1920-2010)

Born in Valladolid, Miguel Delibes was a professor and newspaper director. A member of the Royal Spanish Academy, his notable works include:

  • La sombra del ciprés es alargada (1947): Won the Premio Nadal.
  • El camino: Explores the contrast between rural and urban life.
  • La hoja roja: Depicts the plight of a pensioner.
  • Las ratas: A harsh portrayal of poverty in a Castilian village.
  • Cinco horas con Mario: Considered Delibes’ masterpiece, using an interior monologue to portray a woman reflecting on her deceased husband.

Delibes also experimented with formal styles in Parábola del náufrago, but returned to his usual themes in works like El príncipe destronado, Las guerras de nuestros antepasados, El disputado voto del señor Cayo, and Los santos inocentes.