Generation of ’27: Poets and Literary Critics of Spain
Dámaso Alonso
Dámaso Alonso, born in Madrid, was a poet, literary critic, and philologist associated with the Generation of ’27. He held degrees in Law, Philosophy, and Literature, actively participating in Madrid’s literary scene alongside figures like Federico García Lorca, Luis Buñuel, and Salvador Dalí. He contributed to Revista de Occidente (founded by José Ortega y Gasset) and Los Cuatro Vientos (which he founded). Alonso’s academic career included professorships in Valencia and Madrid, specializing in Romance Philology (now Hispanic Philology). In 1945, he joined the Royal Spanish Language Academy, later becoming its director. He also entered the Academy of History in 1959 and received the Cervantes Prize.
Dámaso Alonso’s Lyrical Work
Initially influenced by Juan Ramón Jiménez’s pure poetry, Alonso’s style shifted after 1939. The miseries of the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath inspired Hijos de la Ira, a work marked by long verses, stark language, and a bleak vision of humanity. This marked the beginning of his “uprooted poetry,” which also includes Hombre y Dios and Oscura Noticia.
Hijos de la Ira
This work breaks with the prevailing rhetorical formalism, expressing a moral protest against war and injustice. Considered a dramatic, autobiographical confession, it conveys outrage at the world’s cruelty and injustice, meditating on the theme of God’s silence.
Luis Cernuda
Born into a Seville military family, Luis Cernuda was mentored by Pedro Salinas, who supported his early publications. Cernuda attended the commemoration of Góngora’s death, later moving to Madrid. After a period of exile in Mexico, his meditative poetry, according to Octavio Paz, can be divided into four stages:
- Learning: Eclogue, Elegy, Ode
- Youth: Un Río, un Amor, Los Placeres Prohibidos
- Maturity: Las Nubes
- Start of Old Age: Con las Horas Contadas
Cernuda’s work respects traditional literature while innovating, a hallmark of the Generation of ’27. Influenced by Garcilaso’s meter and themes, Bécquer’s symbolism, and English metaphysics, he embodies the romantic ideal of the poet as a marginalized figure, expressing unseen truths. His poetry explores themes of love, the desire for life, and the feeling of difference, marked by frustration and the clash between reality and desire.
Pedro Salinas
Pedro Salinas, a Madrid-born poet and essayist of the Generation of ’27, excelled in poetry and essays. He studied Law, Philosophy, and Letters, dedicating himself to university teaching. After earning his doctorate, he translated Proust’s first three volumes into Spanish and taught Cernuda. Exiled in Boston, he taught at Cambridge and later in Murcia, where he modernized the Cantar de Mio Cid. Returning to Madrid, he contributed to magazines and oversaw the modern literature section of the Historical Museum. His love for Katherine R. Whitmore inspired his most renowned poetry books:
- La Voz a Ti Debida
- Razón de Amor
- Largo Lamento
Salinas defined his poetry as a deep exploration of reality. He favored short lines, internal rhyme, and simple verse, which Lorca termed “proesía.” His work is divided into three stages, culminating in his exile period, marked by creation through words and nostalgia for his homeland. His love poetry, particularly La Voz a Ti Debida (inspired by Garcilaso de la Vega), masterfully uses pronouns like “you” and “I” to express the essence of love.
Gerardo Diego
Born in Santander, Gerardo Diego studied Philosophy and Letters at the University of Deusto, where he met Juan Larrea. Living in various Spanish cities due to his academic pursuits, he settled in Madrid, connecting with the Generation of ’27. He shared the National Prize of Literature with Rafael Alberti. After the Civil War, he joined the Royal Spanish Academy and received the Cervantes Prize. Diego’s poetry blends traditional and classical styles, embracing romance, décima, and sonnet forms. His notable works include Versos Humanos and El Ciprés de Silos.
Vicente Aleixandre
Vicente Aleixandre, a Seville-born member of the Generation of ’27, received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1977. He studied Law and Business, excelling at the Madrid Law School. Dámaso Alonso introduced him to classic literature, sparking his interest in the Spanish Golden Age. During an illness, he began writing poems published in magazines like Revista de Occidente. In 1934, he received the National Prize of Literature. Considered a representative of “internal exile” alongside Dámaso Alonso, he later joined the Language Academy and dedicated himself to literature. His work is known for its metaphorical language and surrealist elements, divided into four stages:
- Pure Poetry: Ámbito (influenced by Juan Ramón Jiménez)
- Surrealist: Sombra del Paraíso
- Anthropocentric: En un Vasto Dominio
- Old Age: Poemas de la Consumación
Sombra del Paraíso
This collection of 52 unrhymed, Alexandrine verses is a hymn to dawn and light, contrasting a paradisiacal world with reality. The dawn symbolizes a yearning for truth and fulfillment amidst modern man’s struggles. Another notable work is Destrucción o Amor.
Miguel Hernández
Born in Orihuela (Alicante), Miguel Hernández, known as the “shepherd poet,” tended his father’s cattle while reading and imitating poetry. He published early poems in local newspapers and discussed his work with literary friends. His first book, Perito en Lunas, was published at 23 with financial help from friends. Seeking fame in Madrid, he struggled to find work and returned home, only to leave again later. Fighting for the Republic during the Civil War, he was imprisoned after its end. Despite a life marked by travel and literary pursuits, he tragically died from cerebral anemia. His most important works are El Rayo que no Cesa and Vientos del Pueblo.