Postwar Spanish Novel: Trends, Authors, and Works
Postwar Spanish Novel
The Novel in the 40s
After the Spanish Civil War, a new generation of novelists sought to create a new literary tradition. The 1940s were a time of rupture with the recent past, and the novel reflected this. Several trends emerged:
- Nationalist Novel: Embodied the ideology of the Falange, promoting traditional values.
- Fantasy and Humorous Novel: Attempted to overcome traditional realism with a disenchanted and skeptical vision. Example: The Living Forest.
- Traditional Realism: Focused on the bourgeoisie and featured long, complex plots. Prominent authors include:
- Juan Antonio de Zunzunegui: Presented a pessimistic view of reality in works like Life as it is.
- Ignacio Agustí: Explored the decline of the bourgeois family in novels like The Ash Tree Was.
- Camilo José Cela: Introduced a stark realism that depicted the harsh realities of life. His works include:
- The Family of Pascual Duarte: Marked the beginning of “tremendismo,” a literary movement characterized by its brutal depiction of reality. It’s written as an autobiographical letter and emphasizes the crudity of language.
- The Hive: Reflects the bleak life in post-war Madrid, focusing on themes of hunger, poverty, and hypocrisy. It features a collective protagonist and a limited timeframe and setting.
- Other works: New Adventures and Misadventures of Lazarillo de Tormes, Mrs. Caldwell Speaks to Her Son, Mazurka for Two Dead.
- Carmen Laforet: Won the Nadal Prize in 1944 for Nada, a coming-of-age novel about a young woman’s experiences in Barcelona. It offers a pessimistic view of the time.
The Novel in Exile
Spanish authors in exile continued to write, exploring various styles from traditional realism to modernism.
- Ramón J. Sender: Known for Requiem for a Spanish Peasant, which tells the story of a farmer executed during the Civil War. He also wrote humorous works like Chronicle of Dawn.
- Max Aub: His major work is The Magic Labyrinth series, which draws on his experiences during the Civil War.
- Rosa Chacel: Initially influenced by Ortega y Gasset, her works include Station of Miracles and Acropolis.
- Francisco Ayala: Addressed the theme of dictatorship in novels like Deaths of Dogs and The Bottom of the Pool.
- Manuel Andújar: Wrote Stories of a Story, focusing on individual experiences within the context of the Civil War.
The Novel in the 50s
Despite ongoing censorship, authors in the 1950s demonstrated an ethical commitment to reflecting the realities of their time. The novel tended to focus on collective experiences and history, with less emphasis on plot and a tighter focus on time and space.
Influences:
- American Behaviorism: Shifted focus from internal thoughts to external behavior, with dialogue becoming a central narrative technique. Examples include John Dos Passos’s Manhattan Transfer and Ernest Hemingway’s Men Without Women.
- French Objectivism: Emphasized an objective narrator who does not intervene in the narrative. This style was associated with the nouveau roman movement (e.g., Alain Robbe-Grillet, Marguerite Duras).
- Italian Neorealism: Influenced by films like Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves, this movement focused on realistic portrayals of everyday life and social issues.
Narrative Trends in the 50s: The Generation of Half a Century
- Social Trend: Authors saw literature as a tool for social commentary and education. Key figures include:
- Armando López Salinas: The Mine
- José Manuel Caballero Bonald: Two Days in September
- Juan Goytisolo: The Power Plant and Duel in Paradise
- Carlos Edmundo de Ory: The Lost Laughter
- Neorealism Trend: Focused on ethical commitment and personal experiences, exploring themes of loneliness, frustration, and disappointment. Notable authors include:
- Ignacio Aldecoa: The Glow of the Blood
- Carmen Martín Gaite: Between Curtains
- Ana María Matute: Small Theaters
- Jesús Fernández Santos: The Braves
- Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio: The Jarama River
Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio:
His most famous work is The Jarama River, which won the Nadal Prize. Other works include When Things Don’t Change and Yarfoz’s Testimony.
Ignacio Aldecoa:
Published poetry collections and short story collections like Visigothic Notebooks and Collected Stories.