Pío Baroja and the Generation of '98

Pío Baroja: Life and Style

Pío Baroja, the impressionistic novelist, was born in San Sebastián in 1872 and died in Madrid in 1956.

Pessimism

He was pessimistic, seeing life as a blind, uncontrollable force dominated by instincts, where the cruelty of the strong is imposed upon the weak. This pessimistic conception leads to distrusting everything, avoiding speaking or acting so as not to create 'idols,' and becoming closed off, which prevents communication with others, leading to misanthropy.

Impressionist Style

His style is impressionistic: he does not construct his narratives with solid, closed arguments, but everything is outlined, using impressionist techniques. He describes spaces and environments quickly, with vague sensations. The psychology of his characters is not presented as a whole but builds gradually throughout the novel, using 'zoom' techniques to move closer to or further from objects and landscapes. Descriptions are dynamic. He captures time in its flow. The central theme of his novels often fades with anecdotes; chapters succeed each other at the pace of travel. Dialogue scenes abound, and the end of the novel often remains open. Baroja shows life as a process that is unfolding, not something already completed.

The Generation of '98

The Year of the Disaster

In 1898, Spain was at war with the U.S., which caused the loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Following the loss of these colonies, there was a widespread crisis at the end of the nineteenth century, which was social, political, and economic.

A Group of Writers Committed to Spain

Miguel de Unamuno, Pío Baroja, José Martínez Ruiz (Azorín), and Ramiro de Maeztu reflected on the causes of Spain's ills with the purpose of regenerating the country. In their youth, they thought the solution to the crisis was a Marxist or anarchist revolution. Later, they were inclined to try to reform the country through the education of the population.

Characteristics of Modernism

• Preference for poetry and short story.
• Pursuit of beauty.
• Defense of art for art.
• Flight from bourgeois industrial society to take refuge in distant, oriental cultures.
• Precious style with cultural references aimed at an elite or minority of readers.
• Interest in the characters and most glorious historical events.

Characteristics of the Generation of '98

• Preference for the novel and essay.
• Truth-seeking.
• Defense of a literature designed to regenerate Spain.
• Escape from the bourgeois industrial city, seeking refuge in the towns and landscapes of Castilla.
• Communicative style using traditional vocabulary, addressed to a wider audience.
• Interest in anonymous people and the traditions of the people (intrahistoria).