Postwar Spanish Writing and Authors
Spanish Postwar Literature
Context: The Civil War
On July 17, 1936, a group of officers sublevó. En the peninsula, the uprising was uneven; the Republicans were unable to control the situation. Franco’s army occupied the country, cities were bombed, thousands were killed. The world of culture was deeply affected by these events.
Postwar Poetry
Notable figure: Miguel Hernández (1910-1942). His main feature is his inexhaustible metaphorical imagination. His work can be differentiated into two stages: from 1933 to 1936, “Puppy Moons,” and the second phase from 1937 to 1939, “Wind of People.”
Postwar poetry developed in two scenarios: exile and Spain. Both continued the line of rehumanizing poetry.
Idealistic Poetry
Idealistic poetry is rooted in rehumanization. The themes are love, family, and the Catholic faith. Its style seeks beauty and perfection and uses sober and balanced language. Notable authors include Luis Rosales (1910-1992), Fellow of the Royal Academy and Cervantes Prize winner for his works “April” and “House Lit.”
Uprooted Poetry
Uprooted Poetry is realistic. Its theme is the constant search for the meaning of human existence. Despite its expressive force, it pursued formal beauty. Notable is Dámaso Alonso (1898-1990); his major work is “Children of Wrath.”
Poetry of Exile
In the Poetry of Exile, subjects include the lost homeland and the memory of the struggle and defeat. We highlight the following authors:
- Emilio Prados (1899-1962): Was influenced by Juan Ramón Jiménez (“Body Persecuted“). His adherence to the Republican side led him to compose verses on social issues (“Crying Blood” or “Closed Garden“).
- Manuel Altolaguirre (190-1959): Highlight “The Islands Invited.”
- León Felipe (1884-1968): Highlight “Verses and Prayers of the Traveler.”
- Juan Gil-Albert (1906-1994): Suffered an “internal exile.” We highlight works such as “Mysterious Presence” or “Hot Horror.”
Postwar Narrative
Narrative of Exile
Representative authors:
- Francisco Ayala: A member of the Spanish Royal Academy, he consolidated his position as a leading novelist with works like “The Boxer and an Angel” or “Dog Deaths.” His prose was influenced by the avant-garde literary style, characterized by structural clarity, social criticism, original language, and a creative use of irony.
- Max Aub (1903-1972): His narrative coincides with the aesthetics of art in “Fable Geography and Green.” He had a taste for the experimental, as seen in “Card Game,” and also wrote more traditional works like “The Good Intentions.” His lexicon is characterized by original and brilliant metaphors.
Postwar Novel in Spain
Idealistic Novel
Emphasizes “The Bridge” by Jiménez Arnau.
Existential Realism
This is a bitter reflection of everyday life. We highlight works like “The Family of Pascual Duarte” and “The Shadow of the Cypress is Long.”
Representative authors:
- Gonzalo Torrente Ballester: Who began in theater. We emphasize his literary production “The Coup of Guadalupe Limon.”
- Ramón J. Sender: His novels published before the war include “Magnet,” “Seven Red Sundays.” The theme of Spain appears in his short 1953 novel “Requiem for a Spanish Peasant.” He also wrote historical narratives like “Carolus.”
Postwar Theater
Miguel Mihura founded the magazine The Quail and renewed comic theater after the war. Highlight his work “Three Hats.” He uses clever language, irony, caricature, and absurd situations.
Edgar Neville: He was a diplomat, a screenwriter, and a contributor to numerous magazines. We highlight his high comedy in works like “The Dance.” He used Madrid settings, with characters of high rank. His style is characterized by the creation of irony and exaggerated situations.