Post-Spanish Civil War Novel: From Existentialism to Social Realism

Posted on May 13, 2024 in Latin

The Spanish Post-War Novel

The 1940s: A Literary Rupture

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) marked a turning point in Spanish literature. The deaths of prominent authors, the exile of others, and strict censorship created a rupture with the previous literary traditions. The post-war period saw the emergence of new themes and styles, reflecting the social and political realities of the time.

The Novel of Exile

Authors forced into exile explored themes of loss, displacement, and the trauma of war. They often employed both traditional realism and avant-garde techniques. Notable figures include:

  • Max Aub (“The Magic Labyrinth”)
  • Ramón J. Sénder (“Requiem for a Spanish Peasant”)
  • Rosa Chacel (“Memories of Leticia Valle”)
  • Ramón Pérez de Ayala (“The Bottom of the Glass”)

These novels often delve into memories of childhood and adolescence, the tragic experiences of war, and the challenges of adapting to a new life abroad.

The Traditional Novel

This category encompasses three main trends:

  1. Nationalist Novel: Written from the perspective of the victors, these novels promoted the ideology of the Francoist regime. Gonzalo Torrente Ballester’s “Javier Mariño” is a prime example.
  2. Realistic Novel: Following in the footsteps of Benito Pérez Galdós, these novels depicted the lives of the bourgeoisie with detailed narratives. Authors like Juan Antonio de Zunzunegui and José María Gironella (“The Cypresses Believe in God”) exemplify this trend.
  3. Fantastic and Humorous Novel: This trend offered an escape from the harsh realities of the post-war period through humor and imaginative worlds. Wenceslao Fernández Flórez’s “The Animated Forest” is a notable example.

Existentialism and Tremendismo

This movement explored themes of human existence, anguish, and the difficulty of communication. Autobiographical elements were common, with characters often portrayed as distressed and uncertain about the future. Key authors include:

  • Camilo José Cela: Known for his naturalistic and picaresque influences, Cela’s “The Family of Pascual Duarte” inaugurated the tremendista style, characterized by its stark depiction of violence and suffering.
  • Carmen Laforet: Her novel “Nada” (“Nothing”) captures the profound existential anguish of a young woman struggling to find meaning and connection in post-war Barcelona.
  • Miguel Delibes: Novels like “The Shadow of the Cypress is Lengthened” explore themes of isolation, loss, and the search for identity.

The 1950s: Social Realism and Objectivism

As Spain emerged from its isolation, literature began to reflect the changing social and economic landscape. The Generation of the Half Century emerged, committed to portraying the realities of Spanish life.

The Social Novel

Authors like Camilo José Cela (“La Colmena” – “The Hive”) and Luis Romero (“La Noria” – “The Ferris Wheel”) paved the way for the social novel, which aimed to expose the living conditions of ordinary Spaniards. Two main trends emerged:

  1. Objectivism: This style focused on presenting the actions and dialogues of characters without delving into their inner thoughts or feelings. Notable authors include:
  • Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio (“El Jarama”)
  • Miguel Delibes (“The Way”)
  • Jesús Fernández Santos (“Los Bravos”)
  • Ignacio Aldecoa (“The Rage and the Blood”)
Critical Realism: Evolving from objectivism, this trend sought to denounce social injustices and inequalities. Authors employed realistic techniques to depict the struggles of the working class and marginalized communities. Key figures include:
  • Juan Goytisolo (“Fiestas”)
  • Ana María Matute (“Small Theatre”)
  • Carmen Martín Gaite (“Between Visits”)
  • Juan Marsé (“Last Evenings with Teresa”)

The 1960s: Experimentation and Renewal

The 1960s witnessed a growing dissatisfaction with the limitations of social realism. Authors sought new ways to explore the complexities of human experience, drawing inspiration from European and Latin American writers like James Joyce, Julio Cortázar, and Gabriel García Márquez.

The New Novel

in which the narrator only shows the facts (Marguerite Duras);and Italian Neorealism, from cinema and literature (Alberto Moravia).The social novel was practiced by the Generation of the half century.Its purpose was to testify to the living conditions of the Spaniards and was preceded by Cela (“La Colmena”) and Luis Romero (“La Noria”).These authors took two trends.On the one hand objectivism, which aims to collect only the actions and words of the characters embodied in abundant dialogues highlighting Atdecoa (“The rage and the blood”);Fernández Santos (“Los bravos theater”);Delibes (“The way”);and Ferlosio (“El Jarama”).And on the other hand the Critical Realism that arises from an evolution of objectivism.The authors try to denounce social injustices.That is why he accepts a commitment to reality and tries to capture the causes and effects of social inequality.Type characters, linear storytelling and colloquial registration will be common.Highlights: Ofmef’Ayer, October 27 “); Juan Goytisolo (” End of the party “); Caballero (” Two days of September “); Grosso (” La Granja “); and Delibes (” Las ratas “).Martin Gaite (“Between visits”); Juan Goytisolo (“Game of Hands”); Matute (“Small Finally, in the DECADE OF THE SIXTY, there are criticisms about the poverty of the realistic style. There is an improvement in conditionspostwar This new novel receives two clear influences: from European and North American authors such as Joyce, and Spanish Americans like Julio Cortázar or García Márquez, who specifically a more complex, formalistic, opaque and minority novel, since it requires the reader’s collaborationThe main characteristics are, for example, the use of narrative perspectivism) and the counterpoint (account of several simultaneous stories);also the inner monologue, the Direct Style