Spanish Novel After the Civil War: Rebirth, Exile, and Realism
The Rebirth of the Novel
Features: Among the 40 published authors of the older generation, novel events occur with the publication of The Family of Pascual Duarte by C.J. Cela in 1942. In 1945, Nadal wins with the novel Nada by Carmen Laforet, an existentialist and bitter work.
Great authors such as Miguel Delibes and Torrente Ballester begin publishing.
Authors:
- Camilo Jose Cela:
- Novels: The Family of Pascual Duarte is alarming because of the bitter world it reflects. The Beehive (1952) is a choral novel with many characters, starting with social realism.
- Other: San Camilo 1936, Tenebrae, Short Boj.
- Narrations: Wood Coffee Tales.
- Travel Books: Travel to Alcarria and Del Miño to the Bidasoa.
- Miguel Delibes:
- Features: An author committed to the dignity of human beings, to nature, and to Castile. Masterfully characterized environments and characters.
- Works: The Road, Red Leaf, Five Hours with Mario, The Dethroned Prince, The Holy Innocents, The Heretic…
- Gonzalo Torrente Ballester:
- Features: Great cultural foundations in their work.
- Works: The Joys and the Shadows (trilogy), Don Juan, La saga/fuga de J.B., Chronicle of the Stunned King, Ansúrez and Pepe’s Novel…
The Novel of Exile
Features: Many Spanish writers had to write all or most of their work outside of Spain. Often, their works reflect on Spain, exile, and the Spanish Civil War.
Authors:
- Rosa Chacel: Takes great care with style and made a thorough study of figures.
- Works: Teresa, Memories of Leticia Valle, The Folly, and Since Dawn.
- Ramon J. Sender: A committed writer, realistic and with a very strong creative trend.
- Works: Requiem for a Spanish Peasant and Chronic Dawn.
- Max Aub: Testimonial narrative, critical and committed to human beings.
- Works: The Good Intentions and The Magic Labyrinth (Field Closed, Field of Blood, Campo del Moro, and French Field).
- Francisco Ayala: Aesthetic quality and intellectual burden.
- Works: Death of a Dog, The Bottom of the Basque, The Garden of Earthly Delights…
Social Realism
Features: In the ’50s, the novel has a critical and committed tone. It abounds with collective protagonists, there is less concern about technique and aesthetics, and the intention is testimonial.
Authors:
- Ana Maria Matute: In her stories, reality and fantasy often blend.
- Works: Northwest Festival, First Report, The Stowaway.
- Rafael Sanchez Ferlosio:
- Highlights: The Jarama, which was very important in Spanish narrative due to its technique and objectivist style.
- Jesus Fernandez Santos: Has great concern about style.
- Works: Los Barve Labyrinth, The Man with the Saints, Books of Memories of Things Outside the Walls, Cabrera…
- Juan Goytisolo: Always toils in narrative technique.
- Works: Duel in Paradise, Signs of Identity, Makbara…
- Ignacio Aldecoa: In his novels, social and technical character objectivist marginalized beings abound.
- Works: The Light and the Blood, Gran Sol…
- Carmen Martin Gaite: Author of high quality.
- Works: Jingles, Red Riding Hood in Manhattan, Variable Cloudiness…
- Juan Garcia Hortelano: Objectivism narrative.
- Works: Summer Storm, Mary’s Big Moment…
- Juan Marse: Begins in social realism, but then renewed the art.
- Works: Last Evenings with Teresa, If I Say I Fell, Bilingual Lover…
Renovation and Experimental
Characteristics: In the 60s, there are new narrative formulas: the interior monologue, perspectivism, a temporary disorder, digressions, the relative importance of the argument…
Authors:
- Luis Martín Santos: His work Time of Silence (1962) marks a turning point in our narrative.
- Juan Benet: The experimental technique is reflected in novels such as Return to Region.
- Francisco Umbral: His language is agile and very rich. Mortal and Pink Nymphs…
- Manuel Vazquez Montalban: Cultivated, especially the genre, with the detective Pepe Caravalho. Other works are Galínez, South Seas…
The Story and the Essay
Story: Many of the novelists also cultivated the story: Camilo J. Cela, I. Aldecoa, M. Delibes…
Essay: Many intellectuals cultivate the essay at this time, reflecting on various issues. Highlight F. Ayala, Rafael Sanchez Ferlosio, Juan Goytisolo, Lain Entralgo, Xavier Zubiri, Julian Marias, Jose Luis Aranguren, and Maria Zambrano.