Spanish Literature Under Franco’s Dictatorship (1939-1975)
Spanish Literature Under Franco (1939-1975)
Narrative
The narrative genre experienced significant development during Franco’s regime. Some works reflected the distress of the era, such as Carmen Laforet’s Nada (1945). In the 1950s, social realism emerged, portraying the world of the suburbs, factories, and working class in simple, colloquial language. Key authors include Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio, Miguel Delibes, and Ana María Matute. In the 1960s, the experimental novel arose, seeking new narrative forms while sometimes continuing the themes of social realism. Notable authors include Luis Martín Santos (Time of Silence), Gonzalo Torrente Ballester (La Saga/Fuga de J.B.), Carmen Martín Gaite, Juan Benet, and Juan Goytisolo.
Many important novelists wrote in exile during this period, including Ramón J. Sender, Max Aub, Arturo Barea, and Rosa Chacel.
Realistic Works
These works depict contemporary Spanish society, as seen in Buero Vallejo’s Historia de una escalera, set in a single location (a neighborhood staircase), and Skylight.
Symbolic Works
These works introduce fantastical characters and situations, such as The Weaver of Dreams.
Historical Drama
Examples include Las Meninas and The Owner of Reason. Historia de una escalera portrays three generations of characters, revealing the financial hardship and moral misery of postwar society, all taking place on the landing of an apartment building’s staircase.
Poetry
After the Civil War, two main poetic trends emerged: “rooted” poetry, representing conformist poets, and “uprooted” poetry, encompassing those who reacted against the situation.
Social Poetry
In the 1950s, coinciding with the rise of social realism in novels, social poetry emerged, characterized by its testimonial value and intense social and political commitment. It aimed to analyze Spain’s problems and denounce social injustices.
Experimental Poetry
A fatigue with social poetry and a greater concern for formal beauty led to the development of experimental poetry.
Rooted Poetry
Poets like Luis Rosales, Leopoldo Panero, Dionisio Ridruejo, and Rafael Morales offered an optimistic and hopeful vision of the world, preferring traditional forms.
Uprooted Poetry
These poets expressed conflict with the world and social reality. They include Victoriano Crémer, Eugenio de Nora, Ángela Figuera, and Carlos Bousoño.
Social Poetry of the 1950s
Poets like Blas de Otero, Gabriel Celaya, and José Hierro demonstrated a strong testimonial and social commitment.
Poetry of the 1960s
These poets, including José Agustín Goytisolo, Ángel González, Claudio Rodríguez, José Ángel Valente, and Jaime Gil de Biedma, continued the social poetry tradition but lost faith in its ability to transform the world. They felt a connection to Antonio Machado and the Generation of ’27.
Theater
Theater of Evasion
Playwrights like José María Pemán, Joaquín Calvo Sotelo, and Miguel Mihura focused on escapism.
Realistic and Committed Theater
Starting with Buero Vallejo’s Historia de una escalera (1949), realistic drama emerged, reflecting societal problems and the political situation. Alfonso Sastre also championed social and committed drama.
Experimental Theater
In the late 1960s, experimental and avant-garde theater developed.
Literature in Exile
The trauma of the war significantly impacted Republican writers forced into exile. Notable figures include poets like Rafael Alberti, León Felipe, Juan Gil-Albert, and Juan Chabás; novelists like Manuel Andújar, Arturo Barea, Ramón J. Sender, and Max Aub; and historians like Américo Castro and Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz.