Galician Literature: Exile, 20th Century Prose & Theater
Literature of Exile
After the War of 36, many Galician writers, artists, and intellectuals went into exile to escape Franco’s repression and strengthen Galicianism.
In poetry, the theme was addressed through the complaint and relief of social drama, Galician patriotism, and reflection on the state of exile.
Authors in Exile:
- Luis Seoane: A Galeguista party member, exiled to Argentina. Notable works include Fardel exile, Fog Sant-Iago, and Ascicatrices Valume. His poetry has a realistic style with social themes, long verses, and a scarcity of double-use poems.
- Lorenzo Varela: Exiled to Havana, published four poems with themes far removed from the Civil War, focusing on the popular classes, mythic figures, and longing for the land.
- Emilio Pita: Exiled to Buenos Aires, published Jacobusland, among other works.
- Xervasio Paz Leston: In Buenos Aires, directed the magazine Dawn and participated in acts. His work, often with a poetic tone, includes civil and social evocations of his generation and descriptions of village life.
- Ramon Baltar King: In Argentina, President of the Brotherhood Galega and director of A Nosa Terra. His work, The harmonica talk: memories and curses, alludes to the Civil War.
- Eduardo Blanco Amor: In Buenos Aires, wrote a songbook with themes of social drama and love’s disillusionment.
Theater of Exile:
Castelao renewed Portuguese drama, using structural symmetry, expressionism, and symbolism, combined with humor and folklore. His play, Old should not fall in love, satirizes the loves of three children with the punishment of death.
Eduardo Blanco Amor wrote two subgenres: realistic pieces to drive the people and farces for a cultivated public.
Luís Seoane, in Argentina, wrote Soldadeiras, with historical and social themes, and Irmandinhos vs Franco, a farce about Galician emigrants.
Narrative:
The narrative focused on the issues of the War of 36 with a tone of complaint and testimony. Notable authors include Anton Alonso and Silvio Santiago Rios.
Castelao’s famous essay always focused on Galicia.
20th Century Prose
We can classify the authors of this period by their date of birth and early career. Key authors include Xosé Luís Méndez Ferrín and Carlos Casares.
Xosé Luís Méndez Ferrín:
His works address vital issues related to the world and the human being, suited to the universal nature of radical nationalism and claims of indigenous culture. Important works include: Arnoia Arnoia, Love, and Arthur Arraiano.
Carlos Casares:
His narrative is composed of short stories and novels, with two distinct phases:
First Phase:
Autobiographical works that show a vision of contemporary society. Works include: Wind wounded, Moving in three, and Toys for a time prohibited.
Second Phase:
More realistic works focusing on specific events. Works include: Ilustrisima, The dead of that summer, and Sitting in a God sillon blue.
First Promotion:
- Manuel Alcala: Works include short stories, novels, and travel chronicles.
- Maria Fernandez blacksmith: A founder of the Brais Pinto group. Works include: Forest of wild birds and August 36.
Second Promotion:
- Suso de Toro: Works include Polaroid, Ambulance, Tic-tac, and The shadow Age. He moves away from Galician cultural topics, following a line of criticality and subversive post-modern orientation, using fantasy, irony, humor, and colloquial language.
Generation 90:
This generation creates literary works with careful structure, easy representation, and less symbolism than the previous generation. Authors include:
- Manuel Lourenço: Joana, Electra, and The strategy of narco.
- Roberto Vidal Bolaño: Days of Glory and Saxo Tenor.
- Candido Palace: The blackbird and The bululu dolinier.
- Murad Michelangelo: The big night Felix.
- Lino Braxe: Actress and Dans with Raul places.