Roman Historiography: A Literary and Political History
The Roman Historiography
Roman historiography was understood as a true literary genre rather than a purely scientific work. It often included legends, recreated events, fictitious speeches and letters, and expressive language typical of rhetoric.
Origins and Early Historians
Its origins lie in the annals of the pontiffs, compiled annually, and in recording the most relevant events. In the 3rd century BC, after winning the First Punic War, the Romans decided to write history as political propaganda
Read MoreSpanish Literature and Linguistics Under Franco
Spanish Literature During the Franco Era (1939-1975)
The Franco dictatorship ended the Silver Age of Spanish Literature. Literature intended to express horror and anguish. In the late 1940s, the difficult economic situation resulted in social literature that addressed problems such as hunger and poverty. The 1960s led to new experimental models. Novels composed in 1975, with the death of Franco, marked a turning point.
Lyric Poetry Under Franco
- Social Poetry and Uprooted Poetry:
- Rooted Poetry (Luis
Spanish Literature in the 40s and 50s: Trends and Authors
Spanish Literature in the 1940s
Poetry
Two main trends surged in this period: arraigada (rooted) poetry and desarraigada (uprooted) poetry. Representative authors of arraigada poetry include Luis Rosales, Leopoldo Panero, and Luis Felipe Vivanco.
Novel
The decade began with the publication of The Family of Pascual Duarte (1942) by Camilo José Cela. This work, written under difficult circumstances, presents the story of Pascual Duarte, an uneducated farmer who is about to be executed. Cela employs
Read MoreCervantes’ Life and Literary Legacy
Cervantes’ Life: A Journey Through Epochs
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, born in 1547, lived through the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and died in 1616. His work reflects the crises of a transitional era.
Early Life and Education
Cervantes grew up and was educated in a cultural environment of Renaissance humanism. Later, the decline of the Baroque in the 17th century was related to politics and the Counter-Reformation.
Born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547, he was the fourth of six children of a surgeon.
Read MoreThe Generation of 1927: A Spanish Literary Movement
The Generation of ’27: A Literary Movement
The Generation of ’27 was a constellation of writers who emerged in the Spanish cultural scene around 1927. Their aesthetic sought common elements between popular culture and literary tradition, as well as the aesthetic avant-garde. This included Spanish and European influences, and evolved from pure poetry, the avant-garde dehumanized (Futurism, Cubism, Ultraism, Creationism), and the Góngora-influenced ‘metáfora gélida’ (icy metaphor), to human engagement
Read MoreSpanish Generation of ’27: Poets, Trends, and Influences
Historical Context of the Generation of ’27
In the early decades of the 20th century in Spain, significant social and political unrest, combined with unpopular wars in Africa, led Alfonso XIII to support a coup d’état. This dictatorship, however, failed to solve the country’s problems, leading to the rejection of the monarchy and the establishment of the Second Republic. The Republic, which began in 1931 and lasted until 1936, saw the election victory of the Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing
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