Key Movements in 20th Century Spanish Fiction

Novel of Tremendism (Novela Tremendista)

This movement uses extreme cruelty and hopelessness as a shock tactic, often politicizing the narrative.

Key Characteristics

• Representative Novel: The Family of Pascual Duarte (Camilo José Cela), an account of prison life.
• Narrator: Autobiographical account, first-person perspective.
• Argument/Situations: Extreme cruelty and violence.
• Characters: Antiheroes, often displaying physical and psychological defects.
• Space: Sordid, pessimistic atmosphere, reflecting the ideological aspects of life.
• Style: Direct language, sometimes profane. Literary resources serve the deformation of reality.

The Existential Novel

The publication of Nada (1945) marked a significant shift in the Spanish novel of the 1940s, foreshadowing the trends of the 1950s. The narrative often develops in a concrete, contemporary environment (known as the literature of experience) and uses an accessible style for communication.

Features of Existential Fiction

• Representative Novel: Nada (Carmen Laforet), a first-person story detailing the frustrating experiences of Andrea.
• Topics: Existential angst, oppression, loneliness, and extreme situations (madness, death, pain) are predominant.
• Characters: The individual protagonist often serves as a reflection of the author's concerns.
• Time and Space: Developed over a short time span, often set in closed spaces.

The Social Novel of the 1950s

This period saw the rise of committed literature focused on social critique:

• Precursor Novel: The Hive (La Colmena, 1951) by Camilo José Cela.
• Committed Novel (Neorealism): The Jarama (El Jarama, 1955) by Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio.
• Committed Novel (Social Realism): Two Days in September (Dos días de septiembre, 1962) by José Manuel Caballero Bonald.

The Experimental Novel (1962–1975)

Overcoming Social Realism

Many novelists, often influenced by Marxist ideology, abandoned the idea that literature must serve solely as a weapon of social struggle. The political discredit of Social Realism occurred partly because the Franco regime had strengthened politically and economically. The new generation of narrators rejected the realist aesthetic, initiating a period of formal experimentation and renovation.

Renovation and Key Works

This era is marked by significant experimental works:

• Time of Silence (Tiempo de silencio, 1962) by Luis Martín Santos.
• Five Hours with Mario (Cinco horas con Mario, 1966) by Miguel Delibes.
• Vindication of Count Julian (Reivindicación del Conde Don Julián, 1967) by Juan Goytisolo.

The Participatory Novel and Reader Puzzle

The writer often presents narrative pieces in a disorderly manner, requiring the reader to actively find consistency and structure the story.

Vague Narrative Elements

The focus shifts away from traditional realism:

• Characters: Blurred psychology and lack of clear identity.
• Action and Setting: Limited action; time is non-linear; space is rarely described in detail.

Literary Techniques Employed

• Use of interior monologue.
• Slow narrative pace.
• Mixture of linguistic registers.
• Replacement of traditional chapters with sequences.

Authorial Intention

The primary intention of the author is to display a critical attitude toward society and literary conventions.