Caterina Albert (Víctor Català) & 19th Century Catalan Literature
Caterina Albert i Paradís (Víctor Català)
Biography and Career
Caterina Albert i Paradís, better known by her pen name Víctor Català, was born in L’Escala on September 11, 1896, and died there on January 27, 1966. Associated with Catalan Modernisme, she was the daughter of a politician and had two brothers. She was a novelist, storyteller, poet, and playwright.
A shy and solitary woman, she was largely self-taught. Her work often explored dark themes, including violence and the harshness of rural life. In 1898, she gained recognition at the Jocs Florals (Floral Games). Her literary life can be divided into three main periods:
Literary Periods and Major Works
Modernist Period
- Cants dels mesos (1901): Poems.
- Quatre monòlegs (1901): Collection of monologues.
- Drames rurals (1902): Collection of stories exploring the dark side of rural life.
- Ombrívoles (1904): Collection of stories.
- Llibre Blanc-Policromi-Tríptic (1905): Poems.
- Solitud (1905): Her most famous novel, a key work of Modernisme. Initially published in parts in the magazine Joventut starting in 1904, it was published as a complete book in 1905.
- Caires vius (1907): Collection of stories.
Second Phase (1907-Civil War)
- La Mare Balena (1920): Collection of stories.
- Un film (3.000 metres) (1926): Novel.
- Marines (1928): Anthology.
- Contrallums (1930): Collection of stories.
Post-War Period
- Retablo (1944): Collection of short stories written in Spanish.
- Mosaic (1946): Literary prose, reflections, and articles, offering insights into her thoughts.
- Vida mòlta (1950): Collection of stories.
- Jubileu (1951): Collection of stories.
- Obres Completes (1951, expanded 1972): Complete Works.
Key Characteristics of Her Work
- Emphasis on expressiveness over formal perfection.
- Themes drawn from the often harsh reality of the rural world she knew.
- Focus on complex female characters and their struggles.
- Male characters frequently portrayed negatively or as ineffectual.
Catalan Literary Movements (19th Century)
Romanticism
Influenced by figures like Walter Scott, Catalan Romantic novels often described historical events with attempts at objectivity, giving prominence to psychological and sentimental themes. Example: L’orfeneta de Menargues (1862) by Antoni de Bofarull.
Costumisme
A descriptive style focusing on local customs and manners (costums). Characteristics include a tendency towards documentation, often limited plot, thorough descriptions, authorial intrusion, and frequent dialogue. Example: Del meu tros (1879) by Emili Vilanova.
Realism
Characterized by viewing art as a representation of reality. It focused on contemporary topics, interest in social and historical changes, and accurate descriptions of the environment. Example: Records d’un excursionista (1887) by Carles Bosch de la Trinxeria.
Naturalism
An evolution of Realism, influenced by Émile Zola. Naturalism emphasized determinism (influence of genetics, environment) and applied scientific principles to literature. Distinction from Realism: The Realist observes and describes reality, while the Naturalist analyzes and dissects it to explain underlying causes, often focusing on the darker aspects of human nature and society.
Key figures in Catalan Realism and Naturalism include Josep Yxart, Joan Sardà, and especially Narcís Oller.