The Resilience of Catalan Literature Under Francoism

Historical Context: The Aftermath of the Spanish Civil War (1939)

The Spanish Civil War ended in 1939. The subsequent establishment of the Francoist political regime had severe consequences for Catalan culture: many politicians and intellectuals were forced into exile, and Catalans who remained in Catalonia suffered harsh repression.

The Situation of Catalan Literature in the Post-War Period

The initial post-war period led to the disappearance of Catalan literary journals, institutions, and publishers due to Francoist repression. Catalan literature only began to recover in the second half of the 1940s.

The activity of exiled Catalan culture was also crucial; they created publishing houses, magazines, and literary prizes in parallel to those established in Catalonia.

Narrative Fiction and Literary Currents

In the immediate aftermath of the war, Catalan fiction was almost nonexistent due to censorship and the lack of a publishing market. From the first half of the 1950s, the novel and the short story began to regain the importance they had in the years preceding the war. Contemporary narrators sought ways to depict the surrounding reality.

The main currents of Catalan fiction are:

• The Psychological Novel: Focuses on the analysis of the inner world and the moral life of a character.
• The Realist Novel: Uses a narrator who recounts memories of experienced events, or a testimonial narrator who denounces contemporary facts. Key authors include Llorenç Villalonga and Manuel de Pedrolo.

Mercè Rodoreda: A Central Figure in Contemporary Catalan Literature

Rodoreda is considered one of the most important figures in contemporary Catalan literature. Her early novels are closely related to her personal experiences and those of her generation. At the end of the Civil War, she was forced into exile in France and later in Switzerland.

Key Characteristics of Rodoreda's Work:

• Psychological Depth: Her novels prioritize the inner world of characters and their perspective toward the surrounding reality.
• Protagonists: Women are the main protagonists of her work.
• Themes: Relationships, the passage of time, and the role of women are central themes.
• Symbolism: Symbolic elements are present throughout Rodoreda's entire body of work.

Josep Pla: Chronicler of Empordà and Catalan Life

Born in 1897 in Palafrugell, Josep Pla was always linked to the Empordà region, which he describes in many of his works. After the war, he devoted himself entirely to writing. He was a writer with a great capacity for observation, which led him to produce a vast body of work based mainly on his experiences.

Key Characteristics of Pla's Work:

• Realism: Reflects the daily reality and customs of Catalonia at the time.
• Theme of Time: The main theme of his work is time, reflected in the transformation of the country.
• Style: The writer's style is clear and direct.
• Descriptive Mastery: He excels especially in his mastery of descriptions, always using the most appropriate and accurate adjective.