Post-1898 Spanish Literature: Modernism & Gen '98 Authors

Spain's Literary Shift: The Generation of '98

In 1898, the United States defeated Spain. Consequently, Spain granted independence to Cuba and ceded Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the United States. This event, known as the "Disaster of '98", deeply impacted Spain. In 1902, Alfonso XIII came of age, and the nation was grappling with a crisis of bourgeois consciousness. The prevailing attitude among intellectuals was one of rebellion. This dissent found its literary expression in two significant renewal movements: Modernism and the Generation of '98.

Core Tenets of the Generation of '98

• The primary theme was the "problem of Spain" following the Disaster of '98. Initially, they suggested "Europeanizing Spain" as a solution.
• Their search for national roots led them to appreciate intrahistoria (the history of everyday life and tradition).
• Existential and religious issues deeply concerned the Generation of '98, highlighting their obsession with the passage of time, death, and the meaning of life.
• The Generation of '98 generally rejected earlier rhetoric. In contrast to 19th-century objectivism, they embraced subjectivity and lyricism.
• Notable were their innovations in literary genres, such as Miguel de Unamuno's nivola and Ramón del Valle-Inclán's esperpento.

The Novel in the Generation of '98

The year 1902 marked a significant renewal in the Spanish novel, driven by key figures:

Miguel de Unamuno and the Nivola

• Unamuno expressed existential conflicts and philosophical concerns in his novels. Consequently, ideas took precedence, simplifying plot and environmental description. The focus shifted to the characters' inner lives.
• He employed antitheses and paradoxes to express the anguish and contradictions of his characters.
• His nivolas were described as "viviparous creations" because the novel evolved as it was being written.

Pío Baroja: The Open Novel

• For Baroja, the novel was an open or permeable genre, encompassing everything: the philosophical, psychological, adventure, etc. He rejected pre-planned plots, believing the novel should flow like life.
• His novels aimed to combine imagination with direct observation of reality.
• He adopted an anti-rhetorical style, using colloquial and accessible language.
• Baroja's novels are often grouped into trilogies.

José Martínez Ruiz 'Azorín': Lyrical Prose

• Azorín's work reveals an obsession with time and the transience of life, imbuing his novels with sadness and melancholy.
• His novels are close to the essay form.
• He revived forgotten words, enriching the literary language.
• Notable are his three autobiographical novels featuring a common character, Antonio Azorín, from whom the author took his pseudonym.

Ramón del Valle-Inclán: Stylistic Evolution

• He initially wrote the Sonatas, which exhibit clear Modernist influences.
• His second phase includes the Carlist War trilogy, where he used a harsh and rugged language to express the horror of war.
• In his third phase, he wrote Tirano Banderas, a groundbreaking novel employing the esperpento style to offer a grotesque portrayal of the abuses of a Latin American dictator.