20th Century Spanish Literature: Movements and Authors

Item 8: The Preceding Narrative of ’36

1. Modernism

Valle-Inclán’s Sonatas: A series of memoirs narrated by the Marquis of Bradomín, recounting his amorous adventures. Each sonata corresponds to a season and a love affair.

2. Generation of ’98

Characteristics:

  • Focus on the present, diminishing the importance of the story.
  • Central character with internal conflicts.
  • Emphasis on dialogue, reducing the narrator’s role.
  • Internal struggles of the protagonist as the central theme.

Themes:

  • Concern for Spain’s decline.
  • Reflection on the history of Spain’s people and nations.
  • Importance of character.
  • Subjective perspectives of the central character.

Authors:

  • Pío Baroja: Known for his concern for Spain’s problems and his pessimistic, anxious, and bored characters. His works include Memoirs, trilogies like The Basque Country, The Struggle for Life, La Raza (The Tree of Knowledge), Cities, and The Sea, and the novel Memoirs of a Man of Action.
  • José Martínez Ruiz ‘Azorín’: His work evolved from liberal to conservative, focusing on Spanish landscapes and social concerns. Key works include Castile, Classic and Modern Classics, and Beyond. His novels are known for their simple plots, autobiographical elements, and reflections on time.
  • Miguel de Unamuno: His work explores existential struggles and the search for God. He coined the term “nivola” for his novels, which feature characters grappling with the tragic sense of life. Notable works include Fog, Abel Sanchez, Aunt Tula, and San Manuel Bueno, Martyr.
  • Valle-Inclán: Evolved from Modernism to the grotesque. His works include The Carlist War trilogy, the historical novels of the Iberian Ruedo (covering from Isabel II to the loss of the colonies), and Tirano Banderas (about the fall of a dictator).

3. Generation of ’14 and Novecentismo

This period saw two trends: traditional novelists and Novecentist renovators. Novecentist novels emphasized reflection, reasoning, and perspectivism, often set in urban environments. Short paragraphs were favored.

Authors:

  • Wenceslao Fernández Flórez: Known for humorous novels, particularly The Living Forest, which personifies nature.
  • Gabriel Miró: His prose is known for its sensitivity. His works include Cherries in the Cemetery (Modernist stage) and Our Father, Saint Daniel and The Leper Bishop (critical of society).
  • Ramón Pérez de Ayala: Known for intellectual novels, including autobiographical works like Darkness on the Peaks, AMDG, The Leg of the Opossum, and Troteras and Danzaderas. He also wrote novels with lyrical and social criticism elements, such as Sunday Sunlight and The Fall of the Lemons, and philosophical works like Bellarmine and Apolunio, Tigre Juan, and The Work of Urbano and Simona.

4. The Avant-Garde

Characteristics of Avant-Garde novels include a focus on truth, erotic conflicts, the worship of progress, hedonism, playfulness, and characters interested in their inner worlds. Common themes include eroticism, death, and contemporary society.

Ramón Gómez de la Serna: Known for his critical and ironic perspective, evident in works like The Bullfighter Caracho and erotic novels like Breasts, Nardo, and White and Black Widow.

5. Erotic Novel

Prior to 1936, erotic novels were often termed “gallant novels.” Felipe Trigo’s Jarrapellejos stands out, depicting the problems of a village under a chieftain’s control.