Spanish Narrative: Late 19th Century to the 1960s
Linguistic Features of Narrative
Narrative typically employs connectors, numerous action verbs, and a predominance of predicative syntactic structures. It often includes descriptive textual sequences, dialogue, and expressions of the circumstances of time and place. Narrative can be classified into various forms, such as news, features, stories, memoirs, autobiography, and personal diary.
Narrative Transition to the 20th Century
At the end of the 19th century, the Spanish cultural environment was in need of renewal. This renewal arrived alongside other European literary currents. A group of writers emerged who rejected realism and naturalism, seeking a personal language and aiming to understand the essence of the country to aid in its regeneration. These authors were classified into two streams: the Generation of ’98 and Social Realism. Modernist writers had a strong desire for renewal, with notable figures like Rubén Darío and Valle-Inclán. The Generation of ’98 included Azorín, Pío Baroja, Miguel de Unamuno, and Antonio Machado. While their works varied, these authors questioned Spain’s identity, often referencing older Spanish works.
Pío Baroja (1872-1956)
In his youth, Pío Baroja studied medicine. He soon began writing newspaper articles and eventually authored over 50 volumes of books. His most important works include Zalacaín the Adventurer, The Concerns of Shanti Andía, and The Tree of Science. Baroja’s work often reflects pessimism and vitalism, and his characters are depicted with psychological depth. He died in 1956.
Narrative in the Postwar Period (1939-1960): Social Realism
At the end of the Spanish Civil War, most intellectuals were exiled, and those who remained faced censorship. Despite this, writers began to depict the country’s situation. A key aspect of Social Realism was its focus on the poor and marginalized, as seen in the works of Miguel Delibes. Camilo José Cela explored the social and moral consequences of war. Prominent authors of Social Realism include Ignacio Aldecoa, whose The Great Sun portrays the lives of ordinary people; Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio, whose El Jarama follows a group of young people spending a day by the river; and Carmen Martín Gaite, known for Entre visillos (Between Curtains). After the war, many writers went into exile, and their works often focused on the war and its causes. Notable exiled authors include Ramón J. Sender, whose Requiem for a Spanish Peasant depicts the death of a peasant during the war, and Max Aub, whose works, such as Open Field and French Field, chronicle the period from the start of the war to exile.
Renewal of the Novel in the 1960s
Spanish narrative underwent a significant change in the 1960s. Writers moved away from Social Realism, and the influence of the American novel led to a freer form of expression. A key work of this period is Tiempo de silencio (Time of Silence) by Luis Martín Santos. Juan Marsé also gained prominence during this time, along with other authors.
Juan Marsé (1933-)
Juan Marsé initially worked as an apprentice to a jeweler. He made a name for himself with Esta cara de la luna (This Face of the Moon), which portrays bourgeois youth without ideology. Other notable works include Últimas tardes con Teresa (Last Afternoons with Teresa) and Si te dicen que caí (If They Tell You I Fell). Luis Goytisolo and Francisco Umbral also gained recognition during this period. Novels of this era often focused on the main character’s monologue and exhibited a variety of stylistic trends.