Galician Narrative Production: 1950-1976
The progress made by the Brotherhoods of Speech and We in establishing a prestigious and universal Galician literature was disrupted by the Civil War. Literary activities in Galician continued in exile, primarily in Buenos Aires and Mexico. However, in Galicia, it took 50 years for the revival of Galician literature to begin, spearheaded by individuals associated with the Galaxia project.
Post-war Narrative Groups (1950-1976)
Excluding exiled Galician literature and the new Galician narrative, the narrative production between 1950 and 1976 is characterized by the following groups:
Writers from the Previous Era
This group includes authors like Pedraio Otero and others who continued the legacy of the Generation We, such as Ricardo Carvalho Calero, author of People of the Barrier (1950), the first novel published in Galician after the war.
Individualistic Storytellers
This group is marked by their unique literary styles and experimentation, resulting in diverse narratives that continue to influence contemporary trends:
Ánxel Fole (Magical Realism)
Known for his captivating tales of rural Galicia and its mysteries, reviving the tradition of folklore.
Eduardo Blanco Amor (Social Realism)
A realist writer who depicted the social realities of Galician society.
Xosé Neira Vilas
The youngest author, known for portraying the experiences of Galician emigrants, often through the innocent eyes of a child.
Álvaro Cunqueiro (Fantastic Realism)
His realist narratives blend reality and fantasy, creating a unique literary world.
Ánxel Fole (1903-1986)
Born in Lugo, Ánxel Fole studied law in Santiago and became involved in the nationalist movement. After the war, he lived in Quiroga and spent significant time in rural areas, which greatly influenced his writing. His notable works include:
- Lus of the oil lamp (1953): A collection of interconnected stories where four gentlemen and their servants share tales around a fireplace in a snowbound tower.
- Terra Brava (1955): Similar in structure to Lus of the oil lamp, the narrator discovers an old manuscript containing a collection of short stories.
- Stories of the fog (1973) and History that no one believes (1981): Collections that focus on mystery and urban settings.
Fole’s narratives explore both the material and immaterial realities of Galicia. He vividly describes the rural landscapes, customs, and speech, while also delving into the psychological complexities of the Galician people, their humor, and spiritual culture, infused with beliefs, legends, and paranormal experiences. This confluence of popular culture and magical elements defines Fole’s work as magical realism.
Álvaro Cunqueiro (1911-1981)
Born in Mondoñedo, Cunqueiro was a versatile writer who excelled in various genres, including poetry, narrative, theater, essays, travel writing, and even cookbooks. His work is characterized by a blend of reality and fantasy, drawing inspiration from Galician legends, stories, and popular novels. His notable works can be categorized into two groups:
Semblanzas types Galician
This group includes works like School menciñeiros (1960), People from here and there (1971), and The other tradesmen (1979). These short stories offer a portrait of the disappearing rural world amidst the rise of urban values and mass media.
Larger Works
Works like Merlin and Family (1955), The Chronicles of sochantre (1956), and The old SIMBAD back to the islands (1961) blend mythological and literary worlds with Galician elements.
Cunqueiro’s narratives are known for their imaginative storytelling and unique blend of realism and fantasy, making him a pioneer of magical realism.
Eduardo Blanco Amor (1897-1979)
Born in Ourense, Blanco Amor emigrated to Argentina in 1919 and later returned to Galicia in 1962. His post-war works, including A Esmorga, People in the distance, and The biosbardos, share common features such as the setting of Auria (Ourense), the late 19th and early 20th century ambiance, first-person narration, and a sense of realism. Blanco Amor employed innovative narrative techniques, such as multiperspectivism, to create compelling stories that explore the complexities of human nature and social realities.
Xosé Neira Vilas (1928-present)
Born in Vila de Cruces, Neira Vilas emigrated to Buenos Aires in 1949 and later moved to Cuba in 1961. His works focus on the realities of rural Galicia and the experiences of Galician emigrants. His narratives can be divided into two categories:
Child and Adolescent Perspective
Works like Memoirs of a peasant boy (1961), Letters to Lelo (1971), and Those years of Moncho (1977) explore the development of a child in a peasant society marked by oppression and poverty.
Adult Perspective
Works like People in Rodicio (1965), Women of Iron (1969), and Dear Thomas (1980) depict the harsh realities of peasant society, focusing on themes of degradation, prejudice, and violence. His works on Galician emigrants, such as Path bretema (1967) and Stories of immigrants (1968), address the challenges of forced exodus, including homesickness, isolation, adaptation difficulties, and the struggle for survival.
Neira Vilas’s narratives offer a unique perspective on the social and cultural realities of Galicia and the experiences of its people, both within and outside their homeland.