Spanish Literary Movement: The Generation of '98

The Generation of '98: Defining the Group

The Generation of '98 refers to a group of Spanish writers who emerged in response to two significant factors:

• The dire political, economic, and moral state of Spain, which in 1898 led to the loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines—Spain's last colonies.
• The perceived depletion of narrative forms within the Realist movement.

In contrast to Modernism, the Generation of '98 favored prose, the novel, and the essay as predominant genres, showing increased concern for social issues and political developments.

Key Themes of the Generation of '98

Their concerns about Spain manifested in several key themes:

• The Landscape: Special attention was paid to the Castilian landscape, in which they saw a reflection of the austerity of its people.
• History: They researched the history of the country, not by focusing on major historical events, but by rescuing past life from the point of view of ordinary people and everyday events. This conception of history was termed intrahistory by Unamuno.
• Literature: They found inspiration in medieval authors such as Berceo and Manrique, and classics like Don Quixote and La Celestina.

Key Authors of the Generation of '98

Miguel de Unamuno

He wrote poetry, essays, articles, plays, and novels. He called his narrative creations nivolas. These are novels that explore the spiritual and psychological complexities of their protagonists. Notable works include Fog (1914) and San Manuel Bueno, Martyr.

José Martínez Ruiz, "Azorín"

José Martínez Ruiz, known by his pseudonym "Azorín," was a prominent essayist and novelist. He is celebrated for his meticulous prose, his focus on the essence of Spanish life and landscape, and his exploration of themes such as time, memory, and the passage of life.

Pío Baroja

His many novels can be divided into two main groups:

• Novels of Thought: e.g., The Tree of Knowledge.
• Action Novels: Baroja satisfied the taste for adventurous characters. Notable examples include Zalacaín the Adventurer and The Restlessness of Shanti Andía.

Baroja's prose style is characterized by its rapid pace, far removed from rhetoric and overly cultured literary language. His narrative is notable for its constructive freedom, the dominance of action over psychology, and the engaging quality derived from the many stories and characters that populate his novels.

Ramón María del Valle-Inclán

He was one of the most distinctive and original writers of the period. His work evolved from the Modernism of its beginnings to the creation of esperpento (the grotesque) as a genre. Valle-Inclán was primarily a novelist and playwright.