Extremaduran Literature: 20th Century to Post-Civil War
The Generation of ’98 and Regionalism
The crisis of 1898 in Spain spurred a literary movement focused on individual regeneration. This resulted in the modernist poets and a renewed thematic approach by the authors of the Generation of ’98.
In Extremadura, during the early years of the 20th century, regionalist authors dominated the literary scene. These writers, heirs of 19th-century regionalism, considered José María Gabriel y Galán their master. They produced works idealizing rural life, which they saw as threatened by social development. This literature was conservative in themes, style, and intent, and was very well received by the public.
Luis Chamizo is the most important regionalist poet of this period. His work, “*El Miajón de los Castúos*,” features modernist metrics and utilizes a regional dialect known as “Castúo.” It is considered his most significant work. In prose, Antonio Reyes Huertas solidified the image of Extremadura, clinging to its customs and resisting change. He advocated for reforms to address the most glaring injustices.
Felipe Trigo, an author closer to the ideology of the Generation of ’98, maintained a naturalist approach reminiscent of the great works of the previous century. His writing programmatically withdrew from the social situation of his time and focused on rural life in Extremadura. Among his works, “*El Médico Rural*” and “*Jarrapellejos*” stand out as realistic portrayals of a dire situation, although the latter was published in the 20th century.
Modernism significantly influenced Extremaduran poets in the early 20th century. “*Versos de las Horas*,” by Enrique Díaz-Canedo, is one of the most important works of the 1920s and 1930s. His efforts contributed significantly to the understanding of European literature in Spain. His poetry evolved during his exile, culminating in the publication of “*El Exilio*.”
Post-War Literature
The Spanish Civil War and the subsequent establishment of a dictatorship brought about significant changes in literary aesthetics. Notable authors of this period include:
- Jesús Delgado Valhondo: His poems reflect a Christian existentialist perspective. He is considered one of the three major poets of the 1950s and 1960s in Extremadura.
- Manuel Pacheco: He wrote uprooted poetry with social protest in defense of the oppressed, relating his literary works to art.
- Luis Álvarez Lencero: His poetry features a focus on the disadvantaged and a transcendent lyricism.
- José María Valverde: A poet of national importance, Valverde developed his work away from Extremadura. He is linked to the Catholic poets of the Generation of ’36 through his sincere religious attitude and the peaceful nature of his lyrics. Deeply rooted in the timeline, he incorporated realistic elements into some of his books, such as “*Versos del Domingo*,” where allusions to daily reality reveal an attitude of sympathy and tenderness towards things as God’s creations.
The final years of the dictatorship coincided with the writing and premiere of plays by Manuel Martínez Mediero. His works are associated with alternative and avant-garde theater movements. They employed social and political criticism that generated significant controversy at the end of the dictatorship and during the transition to democracy. Among his notable works are “*Las Hermanas de Búfalo Bill*” and “*El Bebé Furioso*.”