Generation of ’27: Spanish Poets and Their Literary Legacy
Generation of ’27: Leading Spanish Poets
Introduction
The Generation of ’27 was a group of Spanish poets who reached their peak creative period around 1927, the year of the 300th anniversary of the death of Baroque poet Luis de Góngora. This group is considered one of the most important in the history of Spanish literature. Many of these poets were also playwrights, professors, and literary critics. Their work reflects a blend of tradition and modernity, incorporating elements of avant-garde movements like Surrealism while also drawing inspiration from Spanish folklore and classical themes.
Key Figures of the Generation of ’27
Pedro Salinas (1892-1951)
Born in Madrid, Salinas was a poet in exile who also worked as a professor and literary critic. He is known as the poet of love within the Generation of ’27, portraying love as a source of joy and a dialogue between the poet and the beloved. His most famous work is La voz a ti debida (The Voice Due to You).
Jorge Guillén (1893-1984)
Born in Valladolid, Guillén was another poet in exile who did not return to Spain until after Franco’s death. He was also a professor and received the Cervantes Prize. His poetry is characterized by a joyous celebration of life, though it also touches on themes of protest and existential concerns. His major works include Cántico (Canticle) and Clamor (Cry), both part of his larger collection Aire nuestro (Our Air).
Gerardo Diego (1896-1987)
Born in Santander, Diego remained in Spain after the Spanish Civil War. He taught literature and was awarded the Cervantes Prize. His work exemplifies a fusion of tradition (human and religious themes) and modernity (avant-garde and Creationism). Key works include Alondra de verdad (True Lark) and Imagen (Image).
Dámaso Alonso (1898-1990)
Born in Madrid, Alonso remained in Spain and became a prominent literary critic, researcher, university professor, and president of the Royal Spanish Academy. His most important work, Hijos de la ira (Children of Wrath), is a cornerstone of post-Civil War Spanish poetry. It expresses anguish and despair at the cruelty, injustice, and meaninglessness of life. His style is often described as “unpoetic” due to its use of everyday language.
Rafael Alberti (1902-1999)
Born in Puerta de Santa María, Cádiz, Alberti joined the Communist Party during the Republic and went into exile. He returned after Franco’s death and received the Cervantes Prize. His work is known for its variety, ranging from neo-popularism in Marinero en tierra (Sailor on Land) to Surrealism in Sobre los ángeles (On Angels). He also explored social poetry in El poeta en la calle (Poet in the Street).
Vicente Aleixandre (1898-1984)
Born in Seville, Aleixandre remained in Spain and mentored young poets. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His Surrealist works, such as Destrucción o amor (Destruction or Love) and Sombra del paraíso (Shadow of Paradise), express compassion for humanity and a pessimistic view of existence.
Luis Cernuda (1902-1963)
Born in Seville, Cernuda went into exile after the Civil War and taught at universities in the USA and Mexico. He was known for his solitary and melancholic personality, often seen as a poète maudit (cursed poet). His work explores the struggle between personal desire and the constraints of reality. His collected works are titled La realidad y el deseo (Reality and Desire) and include books like Los placeres prohibidos (Forbidden Pleasures) and Donde habite el olvido (Where Oblivion Dwells).
Federico García Lorca (1898-1936)
Born in Fuente Vaqueros, Granada, Lorca was executed by Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War. He studied law and philosophy and letters and interacted with many artists and poets in Madrid. He founded the theater group “La Barraca,” which brought classical Spanish theater to rural audiences. Lorca’s work blends Andalusian folklore with avant-garde techniques, particularly Surrealism. He often focused on marginalized figures (gypsies, Black people, LGBTQ+ individuals) and explored themes of tragedy, death, and social injustice. His major poetry collections include:
- Libro de poemas (Book of Poems): Explores themes of lost childhood, the crisis of youth, and homosexuality.
- Romancero gitano (Gypsy Ballads): Depicts the tragic fate of gypsies whose vitality is thwarted by social constraints.
- Poeta en Nueva York (Poet in New York): A Surrealist critique of the American capitalist system and its dehumanizing effects.
- Llanto por Ignacio Sánchez Mejías (Lament for Ignacio Sánchez Mejías): An elegy for the death of a bullfighter closely associated with the Generation of ’27.
Legacy of the Generation of ’27
The Generation of ’27 left an indelible mark on Spanish literature and culture. Their innovative approach to poetry, blending tradition with avant-garde experimentation, continues to inspire writers and readers today. Their exploration of universal themes like love, death, social injustice, and the human condition resonates across time and borders. The Generation of ’27’s legacy is a testament to the power of poetry to reflect and shape our understanding of the world.