Key 19th-Century Spanish Authors: Larra, Clarín, Galdós

Mariano José de Larra: Critical Writings

His newspaper articles are classified into three groups:

• Articles of Manners: These criticized the backward and uncivilized Spanish society of his time. He defended Europeanization and the country's modernization, with French society as a model. Larra intended to help reform these customs.
• Political Articles: These harshly attacked the Carlists and also the moderate-leaning liberal governments.
• Literary Criticism: These items are comments on various literary works. As an author, he is Romantic, but as a critic, he is eclectic. He has a direct and uncomplicated style, though with very careful language. He uses stories inspired by everyday life as examples for his theses, develops small essays, uses irony, and gets involved in his articles, reflecting his experiences and feelings. An example is The Day of the Dead (1836).

Leopoldo Alas 'Clarín': *La Regenta* Analysis

Clarín's masterpiece, La Regenta (The Judge's Wife), seeks to portray Vetusta (a fictional name for Oviedo). It represents Spanish society during the Restoration, taking an ironic and critical look at all sections of the city. These elements create a suffocating social atmosphere that clashes with the protagonist, Ana Ozores.

The work is divided into two parts. It is a novel with little action, where descriptions of the characters' psychology and environments become important, narrated by an omniscient author who comments on the work.

The author's irony stands out in the novel, criticizing the society of the Restoration.

Benito Pérez Galdós: Literary Contributions

The Episodios Nacionales Series

Benito Pérez Galdós wrote the Episodios Nacionales (National Episodes), which constitute a comprehensive, fictionalized reconstruction of Spain's history in the nineteenth century. There are five series:

1. The first series stars Gabriel Araceli, a boy involved in the main events of the War of Independence.
2. The second set covers the last episodes of the War of Independence and the reign of Ferdinand VII, which marked a return to absolutism.
3. The third covers the First Carlist War and extends to the marriage of Isabel II.
4. The fourth recounts the events when Isabel II was deposed by the September Revolution.
5. The fifth begins with a description of the interim government and ends with the Restoration.

Early Realistic Novels

Set in contemporary times, La Fontana de Oro, considered the first Spanish realistic novel, concerns the ideological confrontation that defined Spain at that time. The characters are divided into two camps: progressives and traditionalists.

Marianela is notable, telling the tragic romance between a girl and a blind boy who idealizes her, unaware of her perceived ugliness.

Spiritualist Period Works

Galdós's spiritualist stage shows a growing interest in moral issues. Nazarín and Misericordia (Mercy) are prominent. In Misericordia, a maid practices Christian charity with her mistress, who is in poverty and tries to hide it from everyone.