Spanish Narrative Evolution: 19th to 20th Century
Previous Narrative to 1936
1. Renovation of Theatre: The 19th-century novel reflected a stable conception of the world and aimed to provide an orderly and coherent picture of reality. In the 20th century, insecurity led to stories of anguish and subjectivism. Features:
- Abandonment of the orderly and linear structure of Realism.
- The modern novel rests on a single character that represents the aspirations of Modernism Regenerationists.
- The Novel abounds in German.
- Descriptions are based on a realistic model which purports to create an illusion of verisimilitude.
The starting point of the narrative renewal: The Will by Azorín, Unamuno’s Love and Pedagogy; Way of Perfection by Baroja and Valle-Inclán’s Autumn Sonata.
2. The Novel in the Generation of ’98: For the members of this generation, the narrative genre became a tool for regenerating the country, which was one of its main objectives.
2.1. Most Representative Authors:
- Unamuno: Transferred to the novel many of the concerns that gave body to his essays and dramatic attempts. He narrates the events that reflect their religious concerns. The structure is built around the protagonist, with more attention to dialogues. From a stylistic point of view, descriptions are reduced, focusing on discussions or monologues expressed in precise language.
- Pío Baroja: In his works, he starts from an observation of reality. In the composition of the story, which aimed to entertain, is characterized by: a) character-centered novels; b) plenty of action and dialogue; c) strong implicit authorial presence; d) Impressionist descriptions; e) expressive disarray.
- Azorín: A great innovator of descriptive prose. He wrote two novels to understand the spirit: The Will and Confessions of a Young Philosopher. With Don Juan and Doña Inés, he was inspired by the famous protagonists of Zorrilla’s play.
- Valle-Inclán: His narrative production follows the same chronological development, aesthetics, and ideology as his dramatic creations. a) First modernist stage: Sonatas cycle; b) Cycle of Barbaras Comedy: Carlist War; c) In the realm of absurdity: Tirano Banderas and The Iberian Arena.
3. The Avant-garde Novel: The Noucentistes incorporate elements of avant-garde poetics. The work of the following three authors constitutes a turning point in the process of renewal of the novel in Spain.
- Gabriel Miró: A great poet of prose, the description always exceeds the narrative, the static dominates the dynamic, action and dialogue are scarce, and time seems to stop. Works: Our Father, Saint Daniel and The Leper Bishop.
- Ramón Pérez de Ayala: Principal representative of the intellectual novel. In his early works, he criticized the brutality, ignorance, weak education, and lack of aspirations that devastated Spanish life. He then focused on love and sex education.
- Gómez de la Serna: A writer of prodigious fertility, who covered all genres. In the novel, he serialized arguments that were colorful, close to local customs, with doses of absurd and irrational humor, and free language. Works: The Bullfighter Caracho and The Secret of the Aqueduct.
4. Other Narrative Tendencies: Other trends that developed over the years:
- Prolongation of naturalist realism: Notable is Vicente Blasco Ibáñez.
- The popular short story: Weekly Story. Galante or erotic novel by Eduardo Zamacois.
- Novelists of the Generation of ’27: Max Aub, Ayala, Benjamín Jarnés.
- Social novel.