Galician Postwar and Modern Narrative Literature History

Postwar Narrative

Eduardo Blanco Amor (1897–1979)

Born in 1936, he experienced exile in America. In 1965, he returned to Galicia, showing intense creative and journalistic activity.

Major Works by Blanco Amor

• A Esmorga (1959)
• Os biosbardos (1962)
• Xente ao lonxe (1972)

His writing features urban ambience, the problematic lives of poor classes, perspectivism, and popular language.

Álvaro Cunqueiro (1911–1981)

In 1961, he joined the Real Academia Galega, and from 1965 to 1970, he directed the Faro de Vigo newspaper.

Major Works by Cunqueiro

• Merlín e familia (1955)
• As crónicas do sochantre (1956)
• Sementeira do ourizo (1961)
• Escola de menciñeiros (1960)
• Xente de aquí e dacolá (1971)
• Os outros feirantes (1979)

He blended realism and fantasy, incorporating traditions and other myths. The landscape served a positive symbolic function.

Ánxel Fole (Lugo, 1903–1986)

Major Works by Fole

• Á lus do candil (1952)
• Terra Brava (1955)
• Contos a carón da lareira (1973)
• I ninguén soubo nada (1981)

These are books of short stories featuring rural Galician protagonists. They take popular narrative tradition as a base, and by mixing humor with fear, they recreate the speech of the lands of Lugo.

Narrative from the 1960s Onward

Nova Narrativa Galega

• Gonzalo R. Mourullo (born 1936): Nas-ciment dun árbore (1954), Memorias de Tains.
• Xosé Luis Méndez Ferrín: O cerco e outras narracións (1958), Con pólvora e granito (1962), Arrabal do Norte (1964), Antón e os inocentes (1976), Crónica de antenguedade (1980), O ventre do silencio (1999), Amor de Artur (1982), Arnoia, Arnoia (1987).
• Carlos Casares (1941–2002): In 1986, he became editorial director at Editorial Galaxia. Works include Vento ferido (1967), Xoguetes para un tempo prohibido (1975), Os escuros soños de Clío (1979), Cantiga de amor (1980), Os mortos daquel verán (1987), and O sol do verán (2002).

Rural Epic

Xosé Neira Vilas (born 1928)

• Memorias dun neno labrego (1961)
• A muller de Ferro (1969)
• Novas de emigrantes (1968)

He utilized multiple narrative techniques, speaking in a language close to the common people.

Galician Literature in Exile

On July 18, 1936, following the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the Statute of Autonomy of Galicia—approved shortly before—was suppressed by the military uprising led by Francisco Franco. After three years of civil war, cultural and political activity was truncated, and Galician nationalism was suppressed.

Intellectuals and writers suffered the regime's established repression and terror. Others were exiled or assassinated. Between 1936 and 1946, not a single book was published in Galician, and a campaign to disparage the language was launched.

The exiled writers directed themselves toward places where Galician emigrants already lived, working alongside them. Castelao became a symbol of the Galician guide for freedom. Their efforts diversified across multiple fields.