Spanish Authors: Unamuno, Valle Inclán, and Baroja

Unamuno

Unamuno's early work criticized the Spanish situation, looking to Europe as a model. Later, he explored the sense of existence, religious faith, and survival after death.

Works

• Test: Explored casticismo (intrahistory).
• Spanish travels and visions: Subjective views of the Spanish landscape.
• The life of Don Quixote and Sancho: Explored the tragic sense of life.
• The agony of Christianity: Examined the philosopher's condition, distresses, obsessions, search for God, immortality, and the struggle between reason and faith.

Novel

Unamuno called his new type of novel "Nivola," characterized by minimal action, dialogues, and interior monologues. Examples include:

• San Manuel Bueno, Martyr (loss of faith of a priest)
• Fog (Augusto Perez)

Ramón Maria del Valle Inclán

Valle Inclán embraced traditionalism and aesthetics, viewing the bourgeois world as ugly. He adopted conservative values but also revolutionary ideas like humanism and utopian anarchism.

Works

1st-Stage Modernist (1902-1905)

• Sonatas (short stories)
• Trilogy of the Carlist War: The Crusaders of the Cause, The Fire's Glow, The Gyrs Old
• Comedy Barbara: The Eagle Crest, Romance Cara of the Wolves and Silver
• Poetry: Aromas of Legend, The Kif Pipe

2nd Stage: Status of the Nonsensical

Valle Inclán developed a bohemian aesthetic. Key works include:

• Luces (theater work)
• The Scarecrow: Systematic deformation of reality, emphasizing grotesque and violent aspects, using irony and black humor.
• Mardi Gras: The Horns of Don Friolera, Galas of the Deceased Captain's Daughter
• Divine Words
• Farce and Licensed by the Queen Castiza
• Tirano Banderas
• El Arena Iberian

Pío Baroja

Baroja was an anarchist in his youth and an atheist, known for his love for the underdog and underprivileged.

Works

• The Struggle for Life: The Search, Mala Boil, Aurora Red
• Tierra Vasca: Lacasa of Aizgorri, Mayorazgo Labraz, Zalacain the Adventurer
• La Raza: The Lady Wandering the City of Fog, The Tree of Science
• Adventures, Inventions and Mystification of Silvestre Paradox
• Shanti Andia
• Concerns and Way of Perfection
• Memoirs of a Man of Action

Genre

Baroja's style was multiform, described as "a sack that fits in everything." He favored sobriety and anti-rhetoric, with spontaneous and lively prose, authentic descriptions, brief dialogues, and conversational paragraphs. His work showed great precision (Impressionism).