Modern Spanish Literature: From Conflict to Contemporary Voices

Key Figures of the Civil War Era

Luis Cernuda

Born in Seville, Luis Cernuda was a militant defender of the Republic until the Civil War. In 1938, he was exiled to England and later to Mexico, where he died. The title of his complete works, Desire of Reality, reflects the contrast between real existence and the poet's desires, leading to feelings of frustration.

Miguel Hernández

During the Civil War, Miguel Hernández wrote poems in solidarity with the grief over the tragedy. His books from prison show the pain of separation from his wife and son.

Postwar Spanish Literature and Society

Society and Culture

The dominant ideology of the Franco regime controlled culture and its media, suppressing any alternative. The new government policy implemented a tough repression, leading to many deaths, prisoners, and exiles after the war ended.

Exile Literature

The end of the war led to the exile of many intellectuals and writers. Many left the country and produced most of their work in exile.

The Existential Novel

Novels of the 1940s reflected the harshness of daily life. They depicted a social malaise that could barely be discussed due to censorship. A notable example is Nada by Carmen Laforet (1944).

Renewal of Narrative Techniques

In Spain, new narrative techniques gained interest starting in the 1960s. These included:

• Multiple narrative viewpoints
• Combination of several storylines
• Disordered chronology with frequent flashbacks
• Use of interior monologue
• Introduction of elements external to the novel (e.g., advertisements, schemas)
• Typography requiring active and creative reader collaboration

Camilo José Cela

Camilo José Cela (1916-2002) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The Hive

The Hive (1951): Cela published this novel in Buenos Aires due to censorship in Spain. He uses a collective character to reflect life in postwar Madrid, contrasting the lives of over 300 characters.

Miguel Delibes

Miguel Delibes, a Royal Spanish Academy member, is one of the great storytellers of the 20th century. A notable work is The Holy Innocents.

Social Poetry

Poets should take a stance against social inequalities, using their writing as a tool to transform reality.

Blas de Otero

Blas de Otero used poetry as a weapon of protest.

Theater of Exile

The end of the Civil War also led to the exile of well-known theatrical authors. The Lady of Dawn premiered in Buenos Aires in 1944.

Humorous Drama

The magazine La Codorniz, founded by Miguel Mihura in 1941, gathered writers who sought to renew the Spanish theatrical scene with intelligent humor.

Antonio Buero Vallejo

Antonio Buero Vallejo's career reflects the best stages of Spanish theater in the second half of the 20th century. A notable work is Story of a Ladder.

Contemporary Spanish Culture and Narrative

Society and Culture

The death of Franco made elections possible. Spain has since been democratized and modernized. Culturally, Spain was revitalized with the disappearance of censorship.

Narrative: Latest Trends

Contemporary authors include Arturo Pérez-Reverte and Antonio Muñoz Molina.