Spanish Literary Figures: Machado, Jiménez, and the Generation of '98

Antonio Machado: Life, Work, and Influence

Born in Seville in 1875, Antonio Machado led a bohemian lifestyle in his youth. He traveled to Paris, where he met and married Leonor Izquierdo. Her early death left him in deep depression. Machado died in Collioure, France, in 1939. As he famously said, he was "a man (in the good sense of the word, good)."

Antonio Machado's Poetic Trajectory

His writing profoundly influenced subsequent Spanish lyric poetry. His work can be divided into three main stages:

• Intimate Modernism: His early compositions reflect a unique understanding of modernism, focusing on deep sentimental intimacy and romanticism.
• Concern for Castile and Spain: This stage is dominated by the Castilian landscape and a patriotic concern for Spain's past, present, and future. This is evident in Campos de Castilla, a work often associated with the Generation of '98.
• Philosophical Concerns: His third book of poems, Nuevas Canciones (New Songs), showcases a series of short, reflective poems.

Juan Ramón Jiménez: Modernist Master

Born in Moguer, Huelva, in 1881, Juan Ramón Jiménez traveled abroad but spent most of his life in Madrid, dedicated to his creative work. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1956 and died two years later.Jiménez is a pivotal figure among modernist poets and a master of Spanish poetry, influencing all members of the Generation of '27.

Juan Ramón Jiménez's Poetic Evolution

• Pure Poetry ("Simple"): Appears in his earlier books, showing early influences from Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer.
• Modernism of "Clothes": Characterized by dazzling language and strongly marked rhythms, reminiscent of Rubén Darío's poetry. Examples include La soledad sonora (The Murmuring Solitude) and Sonetos espirituales (Spiritual Sonnets).
• Nude Poetry ("Personal"): This later stage is personal and transcends specific schools or trends. Notable works include Diario de un poeta recién casado (Diary of a Newlywed Poet) and Piedra y cielo (Stone and Sky). These poems are typically short and highly emotional.

The Novel in the Generation of '98

In the early 20th century, Spanish prose exhibited four fundamental aspects:

• The continued success of non-realistic narrators like Benito Pérez Galdós, Emilia Pardo Bazán, and Vicente Blasco Ibáñez.
• Modernist prose, with Ramón del Valle-Inclán as its foremost representative.
• The essay emerged as the most cultivated genre within the Generation of '98. Influenced by new disciplines such as psychology and sociology, the '98 authors delved into the subjective analysis of the "soul of Spain" to propose national regeneration.
• The '98 novel, while following the realist tradition, experienced significant development thanks to the works of Miguel de Unamuno, Pío Baroja, and Azorín.