19th Century Spain: History, Culture, and Literature

Historical Context of 19th-Century Spain

The history of Spain in the nineteenth century begins with the French invasion and ends with the defeat in the war against the United States—the Disaster of 1898—which resulted in the loss of Cuba and the Philippines.

The political situation in the country was constantly changing:

• The reign of Ferdinand VII: A period of absolutism, with the exception of the Liberal Triennium.
• Reign of Isabella II (1833–1868): Ended with the revolution known as La Gloriosa, which forced the Queen into exile.
• Late 19th Century: Included a provisional government, the brief reign of Amadeo I of Savoy, and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy.

Culture and Society

Romanticism was a European cultural movement developed in the first half of the nineteenth century. It prioritized feeling, passion, and genius, defending individual freedom over the reason and intelligence that characterized the eighteenth century.

• Nationalism: The defense of freedom brought with it an exaltation of nationalism.
• Political Links: This hymn to freedom was embraced by both liberal and conservative romantics.
• Spanish Context: In Spain, the triumph of Romanticism coincided with the rise of liberalism.

Romantic Literature

The characteristics of Romanticism manifested through new themes and literary forms:

• Themes: Extreme situations, pessimism, love as absolute passion, the reflection of human feelings in nature, the idealization of the past, and an interest in the exotic and picturesque.
• Forms: A mixture of prose and verse, the blending of literary genres, plays that break classical rules, historicist prose, and costumbrismo (customs sketches).

The Realist and Naturalist Novel

In contrast to Romanticism, which highlighted lyricism and theater, Realism and Naturalism saw the novel stand out above all other genres.

Key authors and works include:

• Benito Pérez Galdós and Clarín
• Pedro Antonio de Alarcón: El sombrero de tres picos and El escándalo
• José María de Pereda: Peñas arriba and Sotileza
• Juan Valera: Pepita Jiménez and Juanita la Larga
• Emilia Pardo Bazán: La cuestión palpitante or La sirena negra
• Vicente Blasco Ibáñez: Cañas y barro, La barraca, and Arroz y tartana