Spain in the Early 20th Century: Literature and Society
Narrative of Early 20th Century Spain
Introduction: Historical Context
The 19th century concluded with the Disaster of ’98, where Spain relinquished its last colonial holdings: Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. This led to a sense of defeat and decline. In 1902, Alfonso XIII’s reign began, with conservatives and liberals alternating in government peacefully. General Primo de Rivera seized power from 1923 to 1930. The monarchy weakened, and Republicans, supported by socialists and Catalan left-wing groups, gained momentum, culminating in the king’s abdication and the proclamation of the Second Republic in 1931. Communism gained traction, while a fascist-inspired movement, the Falange, emerged. The Civil War erupted in 1936, leaving a lasting impact on postwar literature.
The early 20th century in Spain witnessed extraordinary cultural development across literary genres: Modernism, the Generation of ’98, the Avant-garde movements, the Generation of ’27, and Novecentismo. A group of eager young writers, full of fresh ideas, emerged. Azorín noted, “A spirit of protest and rebellion encouraged the youth of 1898,” citing writers like Maeztu, Pío Baroja, Miguel de Unamuno, Jacinto Benavente, Ruben Dario, and Ramon del Valle-Inclan (but not the Machado brothers). These figures were disparagingly labeled “modernists,” meaning nonconformists. They lived through intense historical events and grappled with Spanish issues, particularly sensitive to the Disaster of ’98.
The Generation of ’98
General Overview
The most prominent writers of ’98 were more concerned with reflections on Spain than with purely formal aspects. They are members of the Generation of ’98. These authors critiqued Spain’s condition, often using the essay genre, but also novels, drama, and poetry. The Generation of ’98 fostered a spirit of freedom and reform, a nonconformity with the surrounding reality, seeking the essence of Spain in the popular and everyday (intrahistory). The noventayochistas engaged with this reality, making it the central theme of their work, and sought to change it. Key figures include Miguel de Unamuno (in poetry, novels, and essays), Ramon Maria del Valle Inclan (in poetry, drama, and novels), Pio Baroja and Azorín (in novels and essays). Antonio Machado stands out in lyric poetry.
Subjectivism dominates novels like Baroja’s The Way of Perfection, Unamuno’s Love and Pedagogy, Azorín’s The Will, and Valle-Inclan’s Autumn Sonata. This marked a new conception of the novel, breaking with the realistic narrative of the previous century. The authors’ concern for Spain underlies their entire literary output, evident in their interest in the Spanish landscape and people, and their exploration of Spanish history to uncover core and enduring values. In Castile, its landscapes, people, and history, the noventayochistas saw the essence of Spain. They identified themselves and their style with the stark and harsh Castilian landscape.
Existential and, in some cases, religious concerns, stemming from a desire to reflect the truth, also feature prominently: the meaning of life and death, aging and the passage of time, the presence or absence of God. Feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and pessimism frequently appear. Sobriety characterizes their style, avoiding rhetoric and bombast, and favoring clarity and simplicity. This, combined with the need to delve into the essence of the people, led them to use local words and even archaic terms. Pessimism permeates their works. Regarding syntax, simplicity prevails, even in prose.