Major Figures in Catalan Literature: From Noucentisme to Post-War

Carles Riba

Carles Riba was a prominent Catalan writer who collaborated with Eugenio d'Ors. He was known for his Greek and Latin translations and also contributed to the Catalan dictionary. He traveled extensively to expand his knowledge. His work encompassed poetry, translation, and criticism.

Riba's literary career can be divided into four stages:

• 1st stage: Personal expression and the search for personal identity.
• 2nd stage: Formal, chamber-like style.
• 3rd stage: Metaphysical and civilian themes.
• 4th stage: Religious poetry.

Josep M. de Sagarra

Josep M. de Sagarra became involved with the Noucentisme movement, although his works are not strictly within this style. He embraced various genres:

• Poetry: Including opera (works written in verse), epic (stories of heroic actions), and satirical poetry.
• Prose: Short stories and novels.
• Theater: This was his most pervasive genre, making him famous. He presented 37 works, including musical magazines, comedies, and dramas.

Sagarra invented the "dramatic poem" and created a mythical Catalonia in his work "Coffee Navy."

J.V. Foix

J.V. Foix began working to help his family financially, which allowed him time to dedicate himself to literature. He was part of the Surrealist movement and incorporated dreamlike images into his work. He was considered a leading figure in the avant-garde. His best-known work is "Sol, i de dol" (Sun, and Mourning).

Joan Salvat-Papasseit

Joan Salvat-Papasseit was a key figure within the Futurist movement. The avant-garde movements were born from a desire to break with the 20th century. His most important work is "El poema de la rosa als llavis" (The Poem of the Rose on the Lips) (1923), a love story. He left part of his work unfinished. He started working at a very young age and was therefore very familiar with the working class.

Salvador Espriu

Salvador Espriu studied law and ancient history. He produced novels and stories during the pre-war period and plays and poetry during the post-war period. His work is characterized by:

• Cultured references: Combining remote references (e.g., Egyptian mythology) with contemporary issues.
• Creation of language and myths: Allowing him to express his concerns in literary terms.

The most important myth in Espriu's work is Sinera (Arenys de Mar). Sinera symbolizes Catalonia and his childhood and adolescent world, which was shattered by the Civil War. It serves as a starting point for a meditation on the existential nature of the human condition and freedom.

Thematic Cycles in Espriu's Poetry

• Death and the tragic fate of man.
• The disappearance of loved ones and the destruction caused by the Civil War.
• The myth of Sinera, based on memories of a world destroyed by war, where men are seen as puppets.
• Poetry criticizing the situation arising from the Civil War.
• Developing proposals for forgiveness.

Key Works by Espriu

Poetry

• Cementiri de Sinera (Sinera Cemetery) (1948): A meditation on death and a profound reflection on a world collapsed by the war. It uses images that connote loneliness, death, and gloom.
• La pell de brau (The Bull's Skin) (1960): Discusses the tragedy of Sepharad (the Hebrew word for Spain), its territories, conflicts, and wars. It includes proposals for reconciliation and coexistence.

Theater

• Antígona (Antigone) (1939).
• Ronda de mort a Sinera (Death's Round in Sinera) (1966).
• Una altra Fedra, si us plau... (Another Phaedra, Please...) (1978).
• Primera història d'Esther (First Story of Esther) (1948): One of the leading works of Catalan post-war theater. It refers to the persecution of the Jewish people, which he identifies with his own people and their language (Catalan). The work is conceived as a funeral testament for Catalan.