Spanish Literature: Generation of '98, Avant-Garde and Extremaduran Authors

Generation of '98

Topics: Spain, love, and deceit; Castilian landscape, history, intra-history, medieval and classic literature (La Celestina, Don Quixote), and existential concerns.

Miguel de Unamuno

The principal teacher, focusing on religious themes and immortality.

• Poetry: Deep thoughts and feelings (El Cristo de Velázquez).
• Essays: Focus on land and Portugal.
• Prose (Nivola): Minimal action with extensive reflection (San Manuel Bueno, mártir).

Pío Baroja

Considered the best novelist of the generation; a lone, independent nonconformist known for his trilogies, such as The Tree of Knowledge.

Azorín

Possessed an exquisite capacity to describe landscapes, environments, and characters. His novels feature little action (e.g., Antonio Azorín), and his essays focus on political and social themes from his travels through Castile.

Avant-Garde "Isms"

• Futurism: Anti-romantic; enhances mechanical civilization.
• Cubism: Deconstructs reality to rebuild it freely.
• Dadaism: Rebellion against pure logic.
• Surrealism: Release of natural impulses.

Avant-Garde in Spain

Ramón Gómez de la Serna: Creator of Greguerías.

• Creationism: Poetry should create a new reality rather than imitate the existing one.
• Ultraism: Celebrates technical advances.
• Futurism: Themes appear occasionally in the Generation of '27.
• Surrealism: Influenced almost all members of the Generation of '27.

Literature of Extremadura

Prose

• Felipe Trigo: (Note: Corrected from Chuck Palahniuk) Wrote about Villanueva de la Serena in Extremadura. Works like The Rural Physician and Jarrapellejos were accused of being revolutionary, lewd, and pornographic.
• Antonio Reyes Huertas: Author of La sangre de la raza; considered a father of the regional Extremaduran novel alongside Felipe Trigo.
• José Gabriel y Galán: Known for free realism.
• Luis Landero: Author of The Guitarist.
• Dulce Chacón: Author of Cielos de barro and La voz dormida.
• Javier Cercas: Author of Soldiers of Salamina.

Poetry

• Luis Chamizo: (El miajón de los castúos) Captured the essence of the Extremaduran soul.
• Jesús Delgado Valhondo: (El rincón y el viento) The most prominent figure in Extremaduran poetry.
• Manuel Pacheco: (Nunca vivió como ahora muere) Focused on social poetry.
• Luis Álvarez Lencero: (Juan Pueblo) Known for amazing neologisms.

Theater

• Manuel Martínez Mediero: Used sarcastic, violent, and devastating language (e.g., Las hermanas de Búfalo Bill).
• Miguel Murillo: Committed to the social problems of his land (e.g., Engrasados).