19th Century Literary Movements: Novel Development and Key Authors

1. Quadre de Costums (Customs Literature)

Literature about the customs of a community, usually those that were about to disappear. This genre employed a two-pronged approach: nostalgic and critical. The intent, as seen with Robert, was to denounce the unreasonable behavior of society, often with a humoristic tone.

From the standpoint of atmosphere, two main types emerged:

• Urban Frame (Quadre Urbà): More rebellious and critical, exemplified by R. Robert.
• Rural Frame (Quadre de Masia): More conservative and nostalgic.

It was important to incorporate reality into literature, especially in the urban frame, which was far from the idyllic and distorted vision of Romanticism.

2. The Romantic Novel

The finest example is The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe. The protagonist, deeply in love, commits suicide when he cannot achieve his purpose.

Other types of novels distinguished in this era include:

• Historical Novel: Prominent authors include Walter Scott and Victor Hugo.
• Pamphlet Novel (Novel·la de Fulletó): Exemplified by Alexandre Dumas, these often focused on passion and relationships.

3. Status of the Novel in Catalan

Catalan prose was at a point near extinction. It was during this period that writing resumed, leading to a rapid increase in the quantity and quality of the novel, eventually becoming the most important genre of the twentieth century.

L'Orfeneta de Menàrguens (1862) by Antoni Bofarull, a mix of historical and pamphlet novels, initiated the slow recovery of the novel in Catalan. However, there was still a lack of editorial support, and the language was considered more suited to poetry than to prose (the novel also being a genre without prestige at that time).

Genís i Aguilar Martí wrote Julita (1869), an idealistic romantic novel with a vision similar to that of Jacint Verdaguer. It explores the “mysteries of the heart” of the protagonist and offers a subjective view of the landscape.

4. The Realist and Naturalist Novel

Gustave Flaubert, author of Madame Bovary, pushed the realist novel to its extreme, leading to Naturalism. This movement aimed to create totally realistic fiction with characters influenced by their social and natural environment, often featuring the bourgeoisie and middle class as protagonists. The narrator sought to maintain separation and objectivity.

Naturalism presented a strong indictment against the established and dominant bourgeoisie. Émile Zola, another key proponent of naturalism, often depicted the lives of working-class women and the poor. His most important work is Germinal (1885), which portrays the dire employment situation of mine workers.