Spanish Narrative: Post-Franco Era to Present Day
Spanish Narrative Since the 1970s
Following the death of Franco, Spain underwent a period of significant transition. King Juan Carlos I ascended to the throne, and after Carlos Arias Navarro’s resignation, Adolfo Suarez became president. This era marked a cultural opening to Europe, Spain’s entry into the UN, and the establishment of a democratic regime, leading to substantial political, social, and economic progress.
Characterizing the novel of recent decades is challenging due to the abundance of authors and works, making it difficult to group them into easily recognizable trends. There’s a clear rejection of ideological positions in literature and a notable interest in youth. The experimental novels and complex arguments that dominated the 1970s shifted around 1975 towards more accessible narratives with clear psychological profiles, linear structures, and a tendency towards brevity. Literary and journalistic works became increasingly interconnected.
Novel Classifications
Police and Intrigue Novels
These novels reflect the darker aspects of society. Notable examples include “The Flanders Panel” by Arturo Perez Reverte, “The Truth of the Savolta Case” by Eduardo Mendoza, and the novels featuring Pepe Carvalho by Manuel Vazquez Montalban.
Generational Novels
Often pessimistic, these novels depict individuals who have succeeded in their training but not in their personal lives. “The Loneliness Was This” by Juan Jose Millas is a key example.
Historical Novels
Emerging in the 1980s, these include “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco, “The Heretic” by Miguel Delibes, and “Soldiers of Salamis” by Javier Cercas. Novels that revisit the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath, such as Alberto Mendez’s “Blind Sunflowers,” are also prominent.
Novels of Intimate Reflection
These delve into the inner lives of characters, often set in urban environments, blending reality and fiction. Examples include “Mortal and Rose” by Francisco Umbral and “Later Age Games” by Luis Landero.
Metaliterary Novels
These focus on the act of writing itself, often targeting a more refined audience. Notable works include “Fragments of the Apocalypse” by Gonzalo Torrente Ballester and “Gramatica Parda” by Juan Garcia Hortelano.
Stylistic Novels
These novels target a minority audience. Examples include “Mazurka for Two Dead” and “Boxwood” by Camilo Jose Cela, and “Heart So White” by Javier Marias.
Testimonial Novels
These realistic novels address social problems. “Kronen Stories” by Jose Angel Mañas is a key example.
Outstanding Authors
- Eduardo Mendoza: “No News from Gurb,” “The City of Marvels”
- Francisco Umbral: “Memories of a Child,” “Mortal and Rose”
- Luis Mateo Diez: “The Front of the Old”
- Juan Jose Millas: “The Objects We Call”
- Arturo Pérez-Reverte: The Captain Alatriste series, “The Skin of the Drum”
- Javier Marias: “Heart So White,” “Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me”
- Antonio Muñoz Molina: “Beltenebros,” “The Polish Rider”