Galician Literature and Culture: Post-Civil War Voices

Cultural Work of Galician Exiles

• Creation of cultural magazines (e.g., Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo immigrant communities).
• Establishment of channels for the distribution of Portuguese literature (collections, editorials).
• Consolidation of Galician Theater: emergence of new Galician theater companies.
• Extensive work disseminating Portuguese culture in immigrant communities.

Luis Seoane: Art, Exile, and Return

Son of immigrants, Luis Seoane was born in Buenos Aires. During the Civil War, he emigrated to Buenos Aires where he founded publishing houses and published books. He published poems such as Fardel eisiliado in Bretema de Santiago, and Las Cicatrices. After 27 years, he returned to Santa Catarina and deepened his work at Sargadelos with Díaz Pardo. His central themes are migration and exile.

Eduardo Blanco Amor: Narrative of Exile

Eduardo Blanco Amor wrote Os Biosbardos, A Esmorga, and Xente ao Llonxe.

• A Esmorga: This novel is set in the port, where a young man recounts to a judge the death of his friends after a night of revelry.
• Os Biosbardos: These are autobiographical tales from his childhood.
• Xente ao Llonxe: This work tells the history of a working-class family with leftist leanings.

Celso Emilio Ferreiro: Poetry of Social Conscience

Born in Celanova, Celso Emilio Ferreiro studied law. During the Civil War, he was a recruiter and fought alongside advisors and Francoists. He was imprisoned during a period of emergency, where he wrote Longa noite de pedra.

His poetry explores several themes, including desarraigo (uprooting) and existential nostalgia. It features a conversational tone and clear content. Notable works include Cartafol de poesía, Longa noite de pedra, and Antipoemas.

His work is characterized by three main thematic lines:

• A social line focused on solidarity and denouncing social evils.
• An intimate line manifesting his existential anxiety.
• An ironic and highly critical line condemning human meanness.

The Minerva Generation: Post-Civil War Voices

This generation comprises writers who did not experience the Civil War as adults, either because they were very young or not yet born. Most studied at university and showed great interest in European culture. Some of them founded the Brais Pinto group in Madrid.

Uxío Novoneyra: Landscape and Social Poetry

In Uxío Novoneyra's poetry, two aspects stand out:

• A paisajística (landscape) aspect, as seen in works like Os Eidos or his elegy to Courel. This expresses the loneliness of the individual in contact with nature.
• A social poetry aspect, which includes works like Vietnam and Letanía de Galicia.

He also wrote love poetry.

Manuel María: A Prolific Voice in Galician Letters

Manuel María has an extensive bibliography of 40 titles, including Documentos persoais, Remol, and Poemas para construír unha patria. He is a prominent figure in Galician letters.

Xohana Torres: A Leading Female Voice

Xohana Torres was the main female voice of the 1950s. After many years without writing, she wrote Estacións do mar e tempo de teoría, considered her second most important work. These works feature strong symbolism and discuss the importance of the landscape.

Evolution of Galician Narrative

The Galician narrative developed through distinct phases:

1. The maturity stage of previous authors, alongside the current exile narrative.
2. Consolidation of a principal realistic narrative.
3. The emergence of Neira Vilas and the new Galician narrative, composed of authors like Carlos Casares.