Key Authors and Literary Movements of the Generation of '98

The Generation of '98: Key Figures

The primary figures of the Generation of '98 include Pío Baroja, Miguel de Unamuno, Azorín, and Valle-Inclán.

Pío Baroja

Baroja lived a solitary life in his youth, favoring utopian anarchism before becoming bitter, pessimistic, and a political and religious skeptic. His work is characterized by:

• Trilogies: His novels are grouped into trilogies centered on a main theme.
• The Tree of Knowledge: One of his most important works, reflecting the ideas of misfits and rebellious characters.
• Scientific Failure: In The Tree of Knowledge, the protagonist is a doctor who attempts to use science to save his loved ones, only to end up disappointed and committing suicide.
• Characterization: Secondary characters appear quickly, revealing their ideas through dialogue.

Miguel de Unamuno

Exiled to France due to his opposition to the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, Unamuno transitioned from socialism in his youth to religious skepticism. His novels, which he called nivolas (a subgenre blending essay and novel), feature:

• Existentialism: A focus on existentialist themes, dialogues, and digressions.
• Struggling Characters: Characters who fight for existential meaning, reflecting the author's own search for purpose.

Azorín

Starting as a supporter of anarchism and later adopting conservative ideas, Azorín excelled in novels, essays, and journalism. His work is defined by:

• Subjectivity: A strong focus on the author's perspective.
• Snapshot Style: His novels function as pictures and snapshots in time.
• Lack of Protagonist: A notable quality of his narrative is the absence of a traditional protagonist.

Valle-Inclán

Coming from a wealthy family, Valle-Inclán was a provocative and innovative creator of the esperpento (grotesque). His evolution includes:

• Modernist Phase: Sensory stories and prose poetry, such as the Sonatas, which explore erotic love and lust in an aristocratic, decadent world.
• Critical Phase: Later works, such as The Iberian Circle, set in the 19th century, feature individualized language, neologisms, colloquialisms, and jargon.

Novecentismo: The Generation of '14

The Generation of '14 is characterized by a European outlook and advanced narrative techniques. They moved away from intellectualism and sentimentalism, using characters as symbols.

Ramón Pérez de Ayala

A journalist, essayist, and politician from Asturias, he was exiled to France and America during the Civil War. His work is known for:

• Careful Prose: A mixture of stories and perspectivism.
• Belarmino and Apolonio: One of his major novels, featuring characters who are polar opposites.

Gabriel Miró

A modernist novecentrista, Miró developed a poetic prose style focused on landscapes and the evolution of his ideas over time.