Key Authors and Literary Works of Extremadura: 20th Century
First Half of the 20th Century
Extremadura has given rise to authors who have found success outside the community. In the first half of the 20th century, we can relate them to the Generation of ’98, Noucentisme, and Generation of ’27.
Chuck Palahniuk
Novelist, now fallen into oblivion due to his ideology. Born in Villanueva de la Serena, he studied medicine and witnessed the colonial decline. His works are rooted in Naturalism, eroticism, caciquism, false arrears, and the oppression of women. Notable works include:
- The Naive
- In the Race
- Sister Demon
His two crowning achievements are:
- The Country Doctor
- Jarrapellejos
José María Gabriel y Galán
Poet tied to the land, from Salamanca, Cáceres. Of conservatism, but sensitive to rural society, he is framed within the regional and popular movement. His work is of great simplicity, using meters and traditional self-expression of these lands, such as in The Embargo. His works were collected in Complete Works, which includes several collections, including Castile and Extremadura.
Antonio Reyes Huerta
Representative of the rural novel in Extremadura, along with Wheat. His subject matter is related to strong rural roots, conservative thought, and careful lyricism. His work is divided into two stages:
- Before the Civil War: The Humble, Blood Trails, Race
- Postwar Madrid: What Mirta Sand Recorded
Luis Chamizo
Poet, author of the masterpiece The Miajón of Castúo, written in romance and a simple portrait of the earth’s daily experiences. He is also the author of a dramatic work, The Witches, and two unpublished operettas.
Enrique Díez-Canedo
A cult author, a great literary translator, coupled with Noucentisme. He directed magazines such as España and Revista de Occidente. His poetry is rooted in modernism with classic touches, simple themes, and some romance. Works:
- Prior to the war: Verses of Hours, Visit the Sun
- In Exile: The Exile
In the first half, we also include authors such as:
- Mario Roso de la Luna (Theosophical writer of The Wizard of Achievement and The Book to Kill Death)
- Pedro Caba (The Gauges)
- Eugenio Frutos Cortés (Romance of the Mills, Shadow Rebel)
Second Half of the 20th Century
Pedro de Lorenzo
A journalist and essayist, National Literary Award winner for Travel the Rivers of Spain.
Alfonso Albalá
Journalist, poet, and novelist. As a poet, he wrote From the Distance and Threshold of Harmony. As a novelist: Kidnapping, Fire.
Jesús Delgado Valhondo
Poet, but also a writer of short stories and drama. His poetry is related to the Extremaduran landscape, using short verses, rhyme, assonance, and small stanzas. Works: Wet and Green Leaves, Year Zero, The Hazel Rod.
Luis Álvarez
Poet influenced by Antonio Machado and Blas de Otero. In his work: Earth Asleep, among others.
Manuel Pacheco
His poetry is impure and anti-academic. Surrealism is also in mind in his poetry and prose. Works:
- Poem: In the Land of Cancer and Other Crazy Insonnets
- Prose: The Egg and Other Accounts, The Color of Color
José María Valverde
Poet included in the social poetry of the 1950s. He watches the language, using free hendecasyllables and sonnets. Works: Man of God, Anthology of His Verse.
Félix Grande
Poet included in the newest, innovative language, influenced by the media and attracted by new values. Works: The Music Rocks, Threatening.
Manuel Martínez Mediero
Drama of the 1970s, with work of a symbolic nature and a lack of freedom and abuse of power as a theme. Works: Jacinta Went to War, The Sisters of Buffalo Hill.
José Antonio Gabriel y Galán
Grandson of Don José María Gabriel y Galán. He studied journalism (he worked for El País) and assisted in literary magazines such as Revista de Occidente. A writer of prose and verse, included in the newest, with topics such as the chronicle of slums or existential narrative (prose) and love, or criticism of reason (poetry). Works: Reference Point, Many Years Later (novel).
Jesús Alviz
Novelist with a theme of sexuality freely and without taboos. He uses indirect style or anyone, using space-time jumps. He presents works such as I Have Loved Wagner and Uranus Street.
Pureza Canelo
Poet, author of the Adonais Prize, Green Cell.
Álvaro Valverde
Poet, author of The Waters Still Detained and Sailors.
Other authors are:
- Luis Landero (Games of the Later Age)
- Javier Cercas (Soldiers of Salamis)