Spanish Literary Currents: Generation of '98 and Novecentismo

The Generation of '98: Themes and Style

In the early 20th century, Spanish narrative production, particularly the novel, was dominated by the novelists of the Generation of '98. They protested against the decadent customs of Spanish society and proposed a total renovation. Furthermore, they defended subjectivism, contrasting with the faithful reproduction of reality favored by 19th-century realist authors.

Predominant themes include:

• The 'Problem of Spain': focusing on the Castilian landscape, the history of the anonymous individual and daily life (what Unamuno called 'intra-history'), and literature itself. They admired medieval authors like Berceo and Manrique, and classics such as Góngora, Cervantes, and Larra.
• The Existential Issue: concern for the meaning of life, the ephemeral nature of earthly existence, the desire for immortality, and religious disbelief.

They rejected rhetorical expression and advocated for clarity, simplicity, and lexical precision.

Key Authors of the Generation of '98

• Pío Baroja: His constant and pessimistic tone is a main theme: the protest in his work against hypocritical bourgeois society and unjust religion. His skepticism regarding ethics is reflected in sad and hopeless characters like Andrés Hurtado from El Árbol de la Ciencia. He also wrote action-prevalent novels like Zalacaín el Aventurero. His style is characterized by short paragraphs, a simple lexicon, and a lack of dialogues.
• Azorín: A meticulous writer, he developed a simple and neat descriptive technique. His concern for the passage of time is reflected in his sad and fluid prose, which attempts to capture the essence of things. Notable works include La Voluntad, Antonio Azorín, Don Juan, and Doña Inés.
• Ramón María del Valle-Inclán: His initial modernist works, such as the Sonatas (prose focused on aestheticism and sensuality, with themes like love and death), evolved towards the 'esperpento' technique. Through esperpento, he denounced distorted and caricatured Spanish reality in works like Tirano Banderas and Luces de Bohemia.
• Miguel de Unamuno: His extensive output reflects profound philosophical concerns regarding existence, death, the relationship between God and humanity, and the interplay of reason and faith. These themes appear in his 'nivolas' (a term he coined for his novels, which often lacked a traditional plot), such as Niebla, San Manuel Bueno, mártir, and Abel Sánchez. The latter, San Manuel Bueno, mártir, revolves around Unamuno's obsession with immortality and faith, presenting it as a tragic choice between love for one's neighbor and the problem of salvation.

Novecentismo (Generation of '14): A New Intellectualism

José Ortega y Gasset, Ramón Pérez de Ayala, Gabriel Miró, and Ramón Gómez de la Serna belong to the Novecentismo group, also known as the Generation of '14. They all share concerns with the Generation of '98 regarding the 'problem of Spain' and the desire for Europeanization. However, they reject the dramatic and subjective vision of their predecessors, advocating for a more intellectual and objective literature.

They sought beauty and purity in art, as well as a neat, effective, and rigorous language with rich expressive resources. The Generation of '14 is known for its precise prose and critical attitude.

Prominent Novecentismo Authors

• Ramón Pérez de Ayala: Known for works like Belarmino y Apolonio and Tigre Juan.
• Gabriel Miró: His novels, such as Las Cerezas del Cementerio, Nuestro Padre San Daniel, and El Obispo Leproso, are characterized by intense lyricism that contrasts with oppressive atmospheres amidst religious intolerance and social repression.