Spanish Literature: Narrative and Theater Trends 1940-Present
The Narrative from 1940 to the 1970s
The decade of the 1940s focused on individuals of extreme cruelty in what has been called sensationalist realism, a style that emphasizes the more sordid and unpleasant aspects, but avoiding sociohistorical references to avoid collision with the censorship of the time. Carmen Laforet and Miguel Delibes are the main representatives of the narrative of this decade. No need arises at this time for other trends such as the fantastic and humorous novel or traditional realism.
The 1950s saw the flowering of the social novel, occurring when “I” becomes “we.” The novels focus on the problems of a group. This decade saw the influence of foreign narrative techniques as well as a tendency towards objectivism and neorealism. Some novelists chose critical realism. We recall Cela’s The Hive, which becomes conversational, highlighting the counterpoint between expressive speech and that of the town.
From the 1960s onward, there is an overcoming of realism. Time of Silence and The Time of the Hero (originally titled The City and the Dogs) were published. These works began a new narrative form, which is much more concerned with formal aspects. It has also been called the experimental novel. Notable authors include Miguel Delibes.
The Narrative from the 1970s to the Present Day
With Gonzalo Torrente Ballester, the recovery of the pillars of the narrative and the art of telling the story begins. A new era begins.
- Thriller: Eduardo Mendoza inaugurated this prolific line, followed by other titles such as The Mystery of the Haunted Crypt and The Adventure of the Ladies’ Dressing Table. We can also include Antonio Muñoz Molina and Manuel Vázquez Montalbán.
- Historical Novel: Eduardo Alonso, Alberto Méndez.
- Metafictional Novel: The narrative fact plays a central role. Authors include Juan José Millás, Luis Landero.
- Autofiction Novels: These use the real life of the author as novel material. Authors include Javier Cercas, Javier Marías, and Enrique Vila-Matas.
- Novel as an Extension of the Short Story: Julio Llamazares.
- Stylistic Novel: Francisco Umbral, Javier Marías, Luis Mateo Díez.
- Intimate Novel: Adelaida García Morales, José Luis Sampedro.
- Boom of the Short Story and Novella: For social and consumer reasons. Notable authors include María José Rivas and José María Merino.
- Thriller: Juan Madrid, Lorenzo Silva.
- A new generation of writers born around 1960 seems to lead a novelistic twist, under the name of Pop Literature or Nocilla Generation.
The Theater from 1940 to the Present Day
The harsh days of the war affected literary creation, and as expected, theatrical production methods were not free of difficulties given the special characteristics of the dramatic genre. Theatrical shows experienced an intense crisis, and strong censorship was present in the immediate postwar period.
The triumphant theater proposes a clear continuity with the forms and dramatic issues prevalent before the Spanish Civil War. Authors who see the theatrical show as a form of entertainment include Jacinto Benavente, Juan Ignacio Luca de Tena, and José María Pemán. Poncela shows a clear trend toward humorous theater, looking for humor in the approach to implausible situations. Miguel Mihura’s literary evolution is marked by the impossibility of representing Three Top Hats, written in 1932, which was prevented from being staged until 1952.
In the 1950s, social drama arises, committed to human problems. Authors such as Antonio Buero Vallejo and Alfonso Sastre present a break with the previous line. This generated a controversy between authors who spoke of possibility and impossibility in theater, considering it a risky art form.