20th-Century Spanish Literature: From Civil War to Democracy
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) profoundly impacted subsequent cultural activity, with literature serving as both an escape and a tool for denunciation. During the 1940s, Spanish literature embraced realism, reflecting the realities of the time. Authors of this period often replicated narrative models, portraying Spanish society in the 1940s and 1950s. Censorship and limited access to foreign novels significantly shaped the literary scene.
Early Influences
The Family of Pascual Duarte marked Camilo José Cela’s entry into the literary world. His novels, more documentary than social commentary, presented harsh realities while maintaining authorial distance.
Miguel Delibes (1920-2010)
Since publishing The Shade of the Cypress is Long (1948), Delibes maintained a consistent literary career. The Road (1950) initiated his rural novels, followed by works like Rats (1962). Rats displayed a more critical tone, culminating in The Holy Innocents (1981), depicting the struggles of a post-war family in Extremadura.
The Social Novel of the 1950s
Building on existing trends, numerous authors emerged in the 1950s with a focus on social criticism. Employing objectivist techniques, two main groups emerged: objectivist realism and social realism.
Objectivist Realism
Authors in this group reflected daily reality, addressing poverty, injustice, and solitude without overt political bias.
Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio (1927-2019)
The Jarama, a key work of this trend, objectively portrays a group of young people spending a day at the Jarama River.
Social Realism
Authors in this group demonstrated a deeper social commitment, using literature as a tool for denunciation. Writing from the perspective of workers and marginalized communities, they critiqued the bourgeoisie and engaged politically.
Juan Goytisolo (1931-2017)
Goytisolo’s early social realism novels, set during the Civil War, employed objectivist techniques. His later works exhibited stronger political engagement, with The Island marking a shift towards experimentalism.
The Novel of the 1960s: Social Concern and Experimentalism
While social commitment persisted, the 1960s saw a shift towards experimentation, influenced by European authors. Novels became more complex.
Luis Martín-Santos (1924-1964)
Time of Silence (1962) marked a turning point, signaling the end of the social novel and the rise of intellectual renewal. Influenced by Kafka and Joyce, the novel’s complex language and interior monologue explored Madrid society in the 1940s.
Gonzalo Torrente Ballester (1910-1999)
Achieving success with La Saga/Fuga de J.B. (1972), Torrente Ballester’s earlier trilogy, The Joys and the Shadows (1957-1962), later became a popular television series. While the trilogy adhered to traditional realism, La Saga/Fuga de J.B. embraced experimentalism, blending reality and fantasy within a Galician setting.
The Novel from the 1970s to the Present
With democracy’s arrival in 1975, the Spanish novel diversified, making generalizations difficult. Authors pursued individual paths, yet some trends emerged:
- Continuation of intellectual and experimental novels
- Opposition to the Franco regime
- Increased accessibility of novels
- Return to traditional storytelling reminiscent of 19th-century realism and the Generation of ’98
- Rise of new sub-genres
Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (1939-2003)
A prominent writer, Montalbán created the detective Pepe Carvalho, featured in works like I Killed Kennedy.
Eduardo Mendoza (1943-Present)
Mendoza’s The Truth about the Savolta Case critiques the abuses of a weapons factory’s owners, reflecting social criticism and condemnation of the early 20th-century bourgeoisie.
Arturo Pérez-Reverte (1951-Present)
A former war correspondent, Pérez-Reverte achieved literary success with historical novels like Captain Alatriste (1996) and contributes as a columnist.
Julio Llamazares (1955-Present)
Llamazares is a contemporary Spanish author.