Spanish Literature: Authors and Trends from 1927 to 1960
Generation of 1927: Key Authors
Pedro Salinas
Known for his poetry that creates a dialogue between the author and the world. Love gives access to the essence of things. He had an anti-rhetorical style. He was a university professor in Madrid and Sevilla. Notable works include Omens and The Voice You Trust.
Jorge Guillén
Characterized by a dense and elaborate language. He was a university professor in Valladolid, Murcia, Sevilla, and Oxford. He was also a professional in exile in the U.S. Notable works include Song Cry (trilogy) and Tribute.
Gerardo Diego
Exemplary for his combinations of cult-popular, traditional, and avant-garde styles. In Santander, he created an anthology of Góngora’s works. Later, he worked at the S.A.R. Notable works include Soria, Manual of Feathers, Purposely Verses, Divine Poems, and Human Verses.
Federico García Lorca
A great playwright and poet. His themes include love, frustration, and tragic dilemmas. Marginalized individuals abound in his work. He had a very personal language. He lived in Granada and Madrid, then at the Residencia de Estudiantes with Dalí and Buñuel. He was executed by firing squad. Notable works include Blood Wedding, Poet in New York, Gypsy Ballads, Songs, and The House of Bernarda Alba.
Rafael Alberti
His themes and styles varied. He merged traditional with art. He moved to Madrid at 15 and joined the Residencia de Estudiantes. He joined the PCE. Notable works include Sailor on Land, I Was a Fool, Eyesore with Shoes On, and I Have to Die.
Luis Cernuda
Known for his intimate and passionate poetry. His central theme is the conflict between desire and reality. He lived in Seville and later went into exile in the UK, Mexico, and the U.S. Notable works include Profile of the Air, Forbidden Pleasures, and Where Oblivion Dwells.
Vicente Aleixandre
His poetry focused more on communication than beauty. He spent his childhood in Seville and Málaga. He lived in Oxford and later resided there. Notable works include Scope, Destruction or Love, and History of the Heart.
Dámaso Alonso
His poetry evolved into substantial poetry. He lived in Madrid and was a professor in Germany, the UK, and London. He was the director of the RAE. He dedicated himself to both poetry and literary criticism. Notable works include Sons of Air, Góngora, The Poetic Language of the City, and Poemillas.
Miguel Hernández
A poet of the transition between the literary group of ’27 and the following generation of the 20th century. His work is full of metaphors and passion. He came from a humble family in Orihuela and later moved to Madrid. He died of tuberculosis. Notable works include Expert in Moons, Elegy to Ramón Sijé, and Ray That Does Not Stop, Wind of the People.
Spanish Literature: 1940-1960
This period was marked by absences due to exile or death, including Unamuno, Lorca, and Jiménez.
Poetry
- Rooted Poetry: Represented by the G-36, including Luis Rosales, Ridruejo, and Luis Felipe Vivanco. It featured classical forms and themes of love, religion, and patriotism.
- Uprooted Poetry: Expressed disgust, anger, and despair towards a chaotic world. It began with Dámaso Alonso’s Children of Wrath. It used direct, colloquial, and passionate language. Notable poets include Victoriano Crémer, Eugenio García de Nora, Ángela Figuera, and José Hierro.
- Social Poetry (1950 onwards): Focused on solidarity and reaching a wider audience. It addressed issues affecting the community with a simple style. Notable poets include Blas de Otero and Gabriel Celaya (Espadaña magazine).
Narrative
Three types: ideological, realistic, and humorous. The panorama was one of confusion. For example, Faithful Infantry by Rafael García Serrano. Some authors moved away from these trends, such as Cela (with his works) and Carmen Laforet with Nada. Miguel Delibes and Ana María Matute also stood out. They used contrasts between the darkly existential and the evasiveness of others.
Camilo José Cela
Born in A Coruña, he was on Franco’s side and worked as a censor. He won the Nobel Prize in 1989. His vision of reality was distorted, with black humor and pessimism, sometimes with tender notes. He used colloquial language and characters, and provided great descriptions of the environment. Notable works include The Family of Pascual Duarte and The Hive (which depicts the moral misery and economic uncertainty of the post-war period, with a collective character representing human destinies).
Miguel Delibes
He had an ethical and humane tone, rejecting a Christian humanist base. He used a simple style. His works often feature defenseless and humble characters in Castilian landscapes. His stages include:
- The Cypress Casts a Long Shadow, The Way, The Rats
- Five Hours with Mario (an ironic criticism of the provincial middle class)
- The Holy Innocents (an experimental report)
Social Realism (1950 onwards)
It moved away from an existential vision to reach a broader audience, using simple language. Themes are based on the exploitation of the proletariat and life in the country. There are two streams:
- Objectivism: Presents reality from a neutral perspective; the author does not appear and uses a simple structure. Notable authors include Ignacio Aldecoa, Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio, and Carmen Martín Gaite.
- Critical Realism: Denounces social injustices committed in reality, using characters that represent types. Notable authors include Lauro Olmo, Luis Goytisolo, and Alfonso Grosso.