Spanish Literary Movements: Realism and Naturalism
Realism in Spanish Literature
The Realist movement in Spain brought forth authors who meticulously depicted society and human behavior. Here are some of its most prominent figures:
Pedro Antonio de Alarcón
An adventurous and romantic figure, Pedro Antonio de Alarcón lived in Madrid during a period of significant political ferment. He commented on these events in La Látigo (The Whip), the newspaper he founded. Initially exalting liberal ideology, he later became a conservative defender of traditionalist and Catholic ideals. Notable works include El sombrero de tres picos and El escándalo.
Juan Valera
Juan Valera represents an elegant and refined realism, reflecting a man of the world with a strong European and humanistic culture. He was a keen observer of human behavior, particularly interested in the spiritual development of his characters. Creator of beautiful novels, his highlights include Pepita Jiménez and Juanita la Larga.
José María de Pereda
Born in Santander, José María de Pereda published successive collections of short stories and articles, such as Escenas Montañesas. His early novels, like El sabor de la tierruca, are woven from genre paintings depicting regional customs. Later, he wrote thesis novels defending his conservative ideology, such as El buey suelto. A master of landscape, his best works are devoted to the sea or the Cantabrian mountains, including Sotileza and Peñas arriba.
Benito Pérez Galdós
Benito Pérez Galdós was the most popular novelist of his time, known for his shy, introverted, spiritual, and kind character. Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, he began in 1873 to write two series of ten novels each (twenty novels in total) about the political problems of the era, known as the Episodios Nacionales. His Contemporary Novels include: La desheredada, El amigo Manso, Tormento, Fortunata y Jacinta, Miau (which tells the story of Ramón Villamil, an unemployed man who, after failing to secure a peaceful change of parties, ends up committing suicide), Ángel Guerra, Nazarín, and Misericordia. In 1897, he resumed the Episodios Nacionales, publishing the third, fourth, and fifth series.
Naturalism in Spanish Literature
Following Realism, Naturalism emerged, pushing the boundaries of social commentary and psychological depth. Here are key Naturalist authors:
Emilia Pardo Bazán
A Countess, Emilia Pardo Bazán was a gifted writer of great intellectual curiosity. Employing a naturalistic and descriptive technique, she recreates the drama of conflicts in the Galician land and among its people. Highlights include Los Pazos de Ulloa and La Madre Naturaleza.
Leopoldo Alas “Clarín”
From an Asturian family, Leopoldo Alas, known as “Clarín,” rose to prominence, earned a doctorate in law, occupied the chair at the University of Oviedo, and resided there until his death. He excelled as a storyteller and cultural and political essayist, characterized by his free-thinking and reformist spirit. His best work is La Regenta, which, alongside Fortunata y Jacinta, is considered one of the finest Spanish novels of the nineteenth century. It depicts Vetusta, a morally oppressive provincial city. Against the backdrop of Restoration society, the novel brings together two major themes of the nineteenth-century novel: female adultery and the priest’s forbidden love. Ana Ozores, the protagonist, a married woman to the Regent, an unstable and hypersensitive character, hesitates between Don Álvaro Mesía and her confessor, Canon Don Fermín de Pas. Her frustrating relationships leave Ana with a bitter taste of life. Style: Formal innovation, ironic language, naturalistic detail, and profound psychological analysis of the characters are some of the most successful aspects of La Regenta. Also notable are Doña Berta and Adiós, Cordera!.
Other Naturalist Authors
While Pardo Bazán and Clarín are central, other significant figures contributed to Spanish Naturalism:
Armando Palacio Valdés
Highlights include La hermana San Sulpicio and La aldea perdida. Armando Palacio Valdés’s work always maintains a spirit of optimism and goodness, even when employing naturalistic techniques.
Vicente Blasco Ibáñez
The Valencian Vicente Blasco Ibáñez was a journalist and politician. A defender of republican ideology, he reflected his sympathy for anarchism in many of his novels. Notable works include La barraca and Cañas y barro.