Nineteenth-Century Spanish Literature: Authors and Literary Currents

Nineteenth-Century Spanish Literary Movements and Authors

Key Authors of Spanish Realism

Benito Pérez Galdós: Master of the Realist Novel

Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920) was a prolific Spanish realist novelist, often considered the most important Spanish novelist after Cervantes. His works offer a panoramic view of 19th-century Spanish society.

La Desheredada (1881)

La Desheredada (The Disinherited Lady) is a novel starring Isidora Rufete, a woman who is a victim of her own ideals. She believes she belongs to a noble family but actually lives in poverty. This work belongs to the contemporary novels of Benito Pérez Galdós, published in 1881, and is a prime example of his realist style.

Fortunata y Jacinta

Fortunata y Jacinta (Fortunata and Jacinta) is a monumental work that explores the complex relationship between Juan Santa Cruz and two women: his wife, Jacinta, and his lover, Fortunata. Fortunata, though from a poorer background, does not renounce her love for Juan, with whom she has a son, thus continuing the Santa Cruz family line. This novel is a profound social study of Madrid.

Doña Perfecta (1876)

Written in 1876, Doña Perfecta centers on a mother and her daughter, Rosario, who prefers to sacrifice her happiness by obeying her mother. Key characters include Don Inocencio, the 'adviser' priest; Pepe Rey, a young engineer who arrives in the episcopal city of Orbajosa intending to marry Rosario, Doña Perfecta's daughter; and, above all, Orbajosa itself – a fictional town whose inhabitants are primarily concerned with their garlic and believe their city is the most beautiful in Spain. The novel critiques religious fanaticism and provincialism.

Fernán Caballero: Pioneer of Costumbrismo

Cecilia Böhl de Faber (1796-1877) used the pseudonym Fernán Caballero. She was a Spanish novelist who often depicted traditional Spanish customs and rural life, a style known as costumbrismo.

"The Seagull" (La Gaviota)

Her works, often set in Andalusia, include "The Seagull" (La Gaviota), which tells the story of a woman who leaves her husband for a bullfighter. This novel is considered a precursor to Spanish Realism.

Literary Movements of 19th-Century Spain

Characteristics of Romantic Drama

Romantic drama was a highly cultivated form within Romanticism. It often featured conflicts between ideals, feelings, and rebellion. The language used was grand, full of exclamations and questions. It placed great importance on scenery and did not adhere to the neoclassical rule of the three unities (action, time, place). Its primary aim was to stir and excite the spectator. During the eighteenth century, plays typically maintained a unity of action, a convention Romantic drama often defied.

The Rise of Spanish Realism

Spanish Realism arrived in Spain with some delay, emerging between 1868 and 1874. This period coincided with the Restoration era and the significant development of the realistic novel. As Spain began to industrialize and modernize, the bourgeoisie gained prominence. Realist writers often employed 'thesis novels' to advocate for specific ideological viewpoints. A notable characteristic of the Spanish realist novel was its strong regional focus, depicting local customs and landscapes.

Naturalism: A Scientific Approach to Fiction

Naturalism, primarily introduced in France by Émile Zola, was a literary tendency within the novel where writers imitated the scientific method. They sought to portray characters and their environments with stark realism, often including details such as diseases, physical handicaps, and other challenging aspects of reality. This movement pushed the boundaries of realism by emphasizing the influence of heredity and environment on human behavior.