Catalan Cultural Resistance and Revival Under Franco

Post-War Suppression and Exile

After the Spanish Civil War, the once-splendid Catalan cultural scene was reduced to nothing, with the Catalan language and its institutions abolished and prohibited. Writers committed to the Republic went into exile, including Carles Riba (who would return shortly after), Josep Carner, Joan Oliver, Pere Calders, Mercè Rodoreda, Francesc Trabal, Agustí Bartra, and Lluís Ferran de Pol. Others, like Josep Pla, J.V. Foix, and Salvador Espriu, were forced into silence or had to resort to clandestine editions of their work.

The Cultural Revival of the 1960s

The situation began to change somewhat in the early sixties. Although the country was still under Franco's regime and Catalan culture was far from official, small cracks began to appear, allowing for considerable cultural progress. The following cultural developments are particularly noteworthy:

• Editorial Revival

  For example, Edicions 62, a major publishing house named for the year of its founding, was established.

• New Literature for Young Readers

  Magazines like Cavall Fort (Strong Horse) emerged, allowing many children to read in Catalan. This fostered a new scene for children's and young adult literature, with authors such as Joaquim Carbó, Josep Vallverdú, and Sebastià Sorribas achieving considerable success.

• The Rise of the Nova Cançó

  The 'New Song' movement became hugely popular. Through it, a number of singers expressed protests against the regime, pushing the limits of censorship with increasing frequency.

• Emergence of Major Literary Works

  In fact, the fifties had already seen the appearance of important works, such as the story collection Cròniques de la veritat oculta (Chronicles of the Hidden Truth) by Pere Calders and Mites (Myths) by Jordi Sarsanedas. Notable novels included Incerta glòria (Uncertain Glory) by Joan Sales, and poetry books like El caminant i el mur (The Walker and the Wall) by Salvador Espriu, Cor salvatge (Savage Heart) by Carles Riba, and Terra de naufragis (Land of Shipwrecks) by Pere Quart. However, the sixties were particularly significant for the novel, with the publication of Bearn (1961) by Llorenç Villalonga and La plaça del Diamant (The Time of the Doves, 1962) by Mercè Rodoreda. This era also saw the appearance of three poetry collections by Gabriel Ferrater, as well as Homes i no (Men and No, 1960) by Pere Quart and La pell de brau (The Bull's Hide, 1960) by Salvador Espriu.