Spanish Literary Masters: 20th Century Authors & The Generation of '27

Prominent Spanish Literary Figures of the 20th Century

This section highlights influential Spanish authors who shaped the literary landscape of the 20th century, including key members of the renowned Generation of '27.

Miguel de Unamuno

Miguel de Unamuno was a professor of Greek and rector of the University of Salamanca, where he lived until his death in 1936, except from 1924 to 1930, when he was exiled for his opposition to the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera.

Unamuno's Work and Philosophy

All of Unamuno's work was marked by several religious crises that made him lose faith. His body of work is primarily philosophical, deeply exploring the meaning of human life.

Antonio Machado

Born in Seville in 1875, Antonio Machado obtained a professorship of French at an Institute and married a young Leonor, aged 16. A proponent of the Republican government, he went into exile in 1939 and died shortly after crossing the border.

Antonio Machado's Poetic Evolution

His first stage was Modernista. His writing style is simple, and his metric varied with assonance. Notable works include Campos de Castilla, new poems on Leonor, and the Soria landscape. Machado's poetry evolved, reflecting his thoughts on more philosophical issues.

Ramón María del Valle-Inclán

Ramón María del Valle-Inclán strongly criticized the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera and was imprisoned in 1929. He was one of the greatest innovators of theater in Spanish literature.

Pío Baroja

Pío Baroja was a bohemian, lonely, and pessimistic man. He viewed society from a critical, anticlerical, and independent standpoint. A notable work is El árbol de la ciencia (The Tree of Knowledge).

The Generation of '27: Spain's Silver Age Poets

In the 1920s, a group of outstanding poets emerged who revived Spanish poetry of the twentieth century. They all befriended each other and other young artists such as Luis Buñuel, Salvador Dalí, and Juan Ramón Jiménez. A tribute to Góngora, marking the tercentenary of his death, was organized by the Ateneo de Sevilla in 1927, which gave the group its name.

Key Characteristics of the Generation of '27

• Tradition and Avant-garde Features: These poets sought to renew poetic language, often utilizing free verse and making extensive use of metaphor.
• Evolution and Exile: After the Civil War, many poets of the Generation of '27 went into exile, profoundly impacting their later works.

Notable Poets of the Generation of '27

Gerardo Diego

Gerardo Diego was a prominent member of the Generation of '27, known for his diverse poetic styles and his role in promoting both traditional and avant-garde forms.

Vicente Aleixandre

Born in Seville, Vicente Aleixandre received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1977. Aleixandre viewed poetry as beauty rather than merely communication with other human beings. His style is characterized by free verse and an abundance of metaphors and images, often making his poems challenging to read.

Pedro Salinas

Pedro Salinas is known as a poet of love; his work often explores the voice of life and the complexities of human relationships.

Federico García Lorca (1898-1936)

Born in Fuente Vaqueros, Federico García Lorca went to study in Madrid, where he met Juan Ramón Jiménez and other artists of the time, such as Luis Buñuel, Salvador Dalí, and Rafael Alberti, forming strong friendships. In Spain, he founded La Barraca, a university theater group that brought classic drama to the people. He was tragically killed at the beginning of the Civil War.

Lorca's Poetry

In his first books of poetry, Lorca combined educated inspiration with folk influences, such as flamenco canto jondo. Romancero Gitano (Gypsy Romances) transmits the poet's anguish in a world that aggressively prevents individual liberty. In Poet in New York, Lorca adopted a new language, strongly influenced by free verse, reflecting his experiences in the city.

Lorca's Drama

A central theme in his dramatic works is the confrontation between the individual and society, notably explored in La casa de Bernarda Alba (The House of Bernarda Alba).

Rafael Alberti (1902-1999)

Born in El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Rafael Alberti supported the Republic during the Civil War. At its end, he was exiled to Buenos Aires and later settled in Rome. Alberti's poetry is very varied; his first books were influenced by traditional and folk poetry, including Marinero en Tierra (Sailor Ashore). Following his entry into the PCE (Communist Party of Spain), he went through a revolutionary period in his writing.