Galician Literature in Exile: A Story of Resilience and Renewal
Galician Literature in Exile (1936-1950s)
A Legacy of Resilience
Starting in 1936, and continuing through the 1940s and 1950s, Galician literature persevered through exile and emigration, primarily to Mexico and Buenos Aires. The Spanish Civil War’s impact is evident in the works of this period.
In Buenos Aires, exiled writers connected with earlier emigrants, fostering a literary revival through magazines, books, and reprints. Despite challenges like limited resources and readership, Galician literature in exile developed unique characteristics:
- Strong political commitment to Galician nationalism and Republicanism.
- Autobiographical narrative poetry.
- Civic and social themes in poetry.
- A cultural blend enriching themes and style.
Poetry in Exile
Key figures in exile poetry include Emilio Pita, Luis Seoane, and Lorenzo Varela.
- Emilio Pita is considered a pioneer of social realism in Galician with his Jacobusland (1942).
- Luis Seoane, with Fardel d’Eisiliado (1952), is also seen as a foundational figure in contemporary Galician social poetry.
- Lorenzo Varela, though writing less extensively, produced high-quality work like Four Poems for Four Saved (1944), evoking Galicia’s past, and No One Can Find in Far (1954), addressing social and political issues.
Narrative and Theater
Notable narrative works include novels by Silvio Santiago and short stories by Ramón Valenzuela.
Theater in exile catered to a longing for Galician themes and addressed topics suppressed in Galicia under Franco’s regime. Playwrights like Manuel Varela Buxán (Without the Tavern Owner, Salaios of an Old Peasant) and Eduardo Blanco Amor gained prominence. Seoane’s A soldadeira (1956) stands out for its innovative aesthetics.
Post-war Galician Narrative
Authors and Works
Post-war Galician prose saw a resurgence with Álvaro Cunqueiro, Eduardo Blanco Amor, and Ánxel Fole.
Álvaro Cunqueiro
Cunqueiro’s work is marked by imaginative fantasy, humor, and complex syntax. Key works include Merlin and Family and The Chronicles of Sochante.
Eduardo Blanco Amor
Blanco Amor’s A Esmorga is a landmark novel. Other works include Os biosbardos, portraying childhood in Ourense, and Xente ao lonxe, depicting the working-class struggles.
Ánxel Fole
Fole focused on short stories, often framed within larger narratives. His works, such as Á lus do candil and Terra Brava, draw from the oral tradition of southern Lugo.
Neira Vilas
Vilas’s social realist narratives often center on childhood, rural life, and emigration, using colloquial language and diverse narrative techniques.
Galician Lyric Poetry in the Late 20th Century
Overview
Censorship under Franco impacted three generations of poets: the Generation of ’36, the Promoción de Enlace, and the Xeración dos Cadernos de Minerva. The publishing house Galaxia played a crucial role in reviving Galician literature.
Luis Pimentel
Pimentel’s posthumously published Sombra do aire na herba is a key work, reflecting a somber reality with a tender, understated style.
The Generation of ’36
This generation, born between 1910 and 1920, experimented with various styles, including surrealism, neo-trobadorism, and hylozoism. Key figures include:
- Aquilino Iglesia Alvariño: Known for works like Señardá, Corazón do vento, and Cómar verde.
- Celso Emilio Ferreiro: His Longa noite de pedra is a landmark work of social realism, expressing solidarity with the oppressed.
The Promoción de Enlace
Born in the 1920s, this group includes poets like Antón Tovar, Luz Pozo, and Tomás Barros.
The Xeración dos Cadernos de Minerva
This generation, born between 1930 and 1940, includes:
- Manuel María: A key figure in the Escola de Tebra, known for works like Muiñeira de brétemas.
- Xosé Luís Méndez Ferrín: His influential works include Con pólvora e magnolias and O fin dun conto.
- Uxío Novoneyra: Known for his unique nature poetry, particularly his focus on the Serra do Courel in works like Os Eidos.