Spanish Novel Before 1939: Authors, Themes, and Techniques

Posted on Mar 12, 2025 in Arts and Humanities

The Spanish Novela Before 1939: Introduction: During the first years of the century, authors like Galdós and Blasco Ibáñez successfully published novels. These narrators, in addition to seeking a new aesthetic narrative, used the novel to criticize. They gave more importance to the story in the novel as history; the novel is centered on the protagonist’s inner world, using dialogue and monologue. Unamuno’s use of an intellectual and aesthetic approach contrasts with Baroja’s aesthetics of dynamic action and a pessimistic vision of man and life.

The Noventayochista Novel

This group sought a renewal of the novel, not in opposition to the realistic novel.

Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936)

He studied philosophy and literature in Madrid. In 1924, he was exiled to France by Fuenteventura and opposed the dictatorship, growing as a writer in all kinds of genres, especially in the essay and the novel. All his work is marked by a strong philosophical concern. His big concern is the problem of human personality and immortality. For him, man enjoys his life. He cares about God and the problem of Spain. His narrative technique is characterized by:

  1. Breaks with realism
  2. Renews his narrative: he calls his novels, Nivola.
  3. The Nivola focuses on internal problems.
  4. Eliminates any descriptions.
  5. The main character fights for their existence.
  6. Monologue and dialogue become important.
  7. His style is complex.

He started using this technique in “Fog”, where the problem of being and existing is explored. The hero, to win the love of a woman, mortgages his home. She and her husband take advantage of Augusto. This was a laundress who deceives him, and finally, leaves, and Unamuno tells us he is going to commit suicide. In “Abel Sánchez” he develops the subject of envy, “La Tía Tula” explores solitude and the impossibility of love. In “San Manuel Bueno, Martyr” he treats faith, doubt, life as a dream, and especially the problem of happiness in this life. The narrative is linear and conceptual. The characters are a kind of biblical symbols: Manuel (God), Angela (Virgin).

Pío Baroja (1873-1956)

He went to Madrid and was appointed a member of the SAR. For him, man is stupid and selfish by nature. Influenced by Nietzsche, he reflects on humanism and social criticism. His technique is based on:

  1. The novel must be dynamic.
  2. Spontaneity and observation are ingredients.
  3. The settings and characters are reality.
  4. The novels have to turn around the education of an existential character.
  5. His characters are often failures.
  6. The narrative structure is simple.
  7. His style is clear, brief, and concise.

Most of his novels are organized in a trilogy, such as “Struggle for Life”, where the marginalization of survival is explored. “Basque Country” is about class struggle. “Race” explores social inadequacy. Within his narrative, it is important to highlight his collection of 22 novels titled “Memoirs of a Man of Action.” Finally, it is important to say that Baroja is one of the most important novelists of contemporary Spanish literature.