Spanish Literature in the 40s and 50s: Trends and Authors
Spanish Literature in the 1940s
Poetry
Two main trends surged in this period: arraigada (rooted) poetry and desarraigada (uprooted) poetry. Representative authors of arraigada poetry include Luis Rosales, Leopoldo Panero, and Luis Felipe Vivanco.
Novel
The decade began with the publication of The Family of Pascual Duarte (1942) by Camilo José Cela. This work, written under difficult circumstances, presents the story of Pascual Duarte, an uneducated farmer who is about to be executed. Cela employs tremendismo, a literary technique that denounces and criticizes Spanish society, addressing topics such as violence and rape. Another significant novel of this period is Nada by Carmen Laforet, which passed censorship and offered a critique of the country, reflecting a sense of departure and absence of a future.
Theater
The theater faced significant challenges during this time. Immediately after the Civil War, theaters were destroyed, and many actors, particularly those with leftist leanings, were dispersed. Censorship was also prevalent. Two main theatrical forms emerged:
- High Comedy Theater: This type of comedy was based on drawing-room realism, focusing on permitted conflicts, primarily love. Political topics were absent. Its function was to entertain the public. Plays were typically divided into three acts, and the characters belonged to the bourgeoisie. Notable authors include José María Pemán and Joaquín Calvo Sotelo.
- Comic Theater: This form flourished in the years following the post-war period, moving away from realism. While its literary value is often considered limited, many works emerged. Important authors from the post-war era continued to be relevant.
Enrique Jardiel Poncela: Introduced a new and unpredictable style of theater, often surprisingly absurd. His works are notable for their clever premises and bright, fresh dialogues. Key works include: Eloísa está debajo de un almendro, Los Ladrones somos gente honorable, Cuatro corazones con freno y marcha atrás, and Los habitantes de la casa deshabitada.
Miguel Mihura: Besides writing for the theater, Mihura also wrote jokes and articles and was the director of the magazine La Codorniz. His humor is characterized by improbable associations, exaggeration, and distortions of logical causality. Notable works: Tres sombreros de copa, Maribel y la extraña familia, and Melocotón en almíbar.
Spanish Literature in the 1950s
Poetry
Spain’s acceptance into the UN began to alleviate the country’s isolation, and some countries started to establish contact with Spain. Fear of censorship led writers to focus their criticism on social and testimonial themes, embracing social realism. The poetry of this decade aimed to reach the common people, employing simple language and a colloquial tone. It expressed solidarity with those suffering injustice and advocated for a better future.
Blas Otero: Initially dedicated to teaching, Otero later devoted himself entirely to poetry. He experienced a turbulent life, living in deplorable and precarious conditions. Ideologically, he transitioned from Marxism to militant Christianity. His early work features religious poetry with “spiritual conflicts.” He then underwent an existential phase with Ángel fieramente humano and Redoble de conciencia, which later formed a single book, Ancia. His later work reflects a greater social concern. This social poetry begins with Pido la paz y la palabra, En Castellano, Que trata de España. In his final poetic phase, he returned to a reflective style: Historias fingidas y verdaderas (prose) and Hojas de Madrid con La Galerna.
José Hierro: A prominent figure in the social poetry of the 1950s. His work often features anecdotal elements, grounded in personal and historical time. Key works: Tierra sin nosotros and Quinta del 42.