Spanish Literature of the 1940s: Trends and Key Authors

Novel of the 1940s: General Characteristics

The literature of this period reflects the harsh realities of post-war Spain, focusing on themes such as human freedom, the denunciation of violence, poverty, hunger, and the prevalence of the black market.

Key Elements of the 1940s Novel

• Characters: Often depicted as violent, marginalized, indecisive, selfish, and melancholic.
• Setting: Divided between the city (Catholic-influenced) and rural or small-town environments.
• Perspective: Nationalist viewpoints often dominate, reflecting the vision of the victors, though frequently lacking in psychological depth.

Notable Authors and Trends

• Rafael García Serrano: The True Infantry.
• Agustín Foxá: Madrid, Corte a la Deriva (formerly titled Madrid de Corte a Checa).
• Traditional Realist Novel: Focuses on bourgeois life with extensive plots and sequential events (e.g., Azorín, Baroja).
• Humanistic-Fantastic Novel: Characterized by an evasion of reality (e.g., Wenceslao Fernández Flórez's The Living Forest, Álvaro Cunqueiro).
• Novel of Exile: Represented by Ramón J. Sender, who maintained a focus on social reality despite being outside Spain.
• Existential Novel: Reflects the negative sentiment, solitude, and ideological commitment of the time, often constrained by strict censorship.

Poetry of the 1940s

The vibrant poetic landscape existing before the war was largely lost, with many poets facing imprisonment or internal exile.

Poetry of Exile

Themes include the lost homeland and criticism of the war, gradually incorporating influences from host countries.

• León Felipe: España e Hispanoamérica.
• Miguel Hernández: Influenced by the Generation of '27; themes include love for his child, pain, death, and freedom.

Rooted Poetry (Garcilaso Group / Generation of '36)

A classical, traditional, and evasive style looking toward the past. It emphasizes religion, love, and an organized, perfect world, aligning with the victors.

• Form: Sonnets and silvas.
• Authors: Dionisio Ridruejo, Leopoldo Panero, Luis Rosales.

Uprooted Poetry (Existential Poetry)

This movement confronts the ugly reality of the world, addressing serious issues like death and injustice. It questions God's role in a suffering world.

• Style: Lacks traditional rhyme or measure; uses hard, impatient lexicon.
• Authors: Dámaso Alonso (Children of Wrath), Victoriano Crémer, Eugenio de Nora.

Postismo

A unique avant-garde trend associated with the magazine La Cerbatana. Key authors include Pablo García Baena and Ricardo Molina.