Spanish Literature: Prereality and Realism

Prereality in Spanish Literature

Prereality began in 1849 with the publication of La Gaviota by Fernán Caballero (1796-1877), pseudonym of Cecilia Böhl de Faber.

Prereality novels have a costumbrista tone and a moralizing purpose, as shown in La Gaviota, which recounts the eventful love life of a young woman. She symbolizes the protagonist's transformation within the society of the time and vindicates traditional values. Prereality authors did not delve deeply into psychological analysis or social criticism; instead, they preferred colorful and picturesque detail and the defense of traditional values.

The chief representative of the Prereality current is Pedro Antonio de Alarcón (1833-1891), author of short stories and novels. In his most famous novel, El sombrero de tres picos (The Three-Cornered Hat), a folkloric tale develops: a corregidor tries to seduce the wife of a miller, who eventually takes revenge on him.

Spanish Realism: 1870 Onwards

The properly realistic stage began in 1870 with the publication of La Fontana de Oro by Benito Pérez Galdós. It is characterized by the desire to portray contemporary reality with critical intention.

In general, the narrator adopts a more objective stance, and the characters are subject to more detailed psychological portraiture.

Besides Galdós, other notable authors include Juan Valera and José María de Pereda.

Juan Valera

Juan Valera (1824-1905) published his most important work, Pepita Jiménez, in 1874. This is an epistolary novel which recounts the love between a seminarian, Luis Vargas, and his father's fiancée, Pepita Jiménez.

Benito Pérez Galdós

Benito Pérez Galdós was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1843. At nineteen, he moved to Madrid, where he spent most of his life. He was a republican and intervened in politics, becoming a deputy. He died in Madrid in 1920.

Galdós' Narrative Work

Galdós' narrative work is often classified into four main groups:

• The Episodios Nacionales are a set of forty-six novels grouped into five series of ten volumes each, except the last, which is composed of six novels. This monumental work traces the history of Spain in the nineteenth century, from the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) until the start of the Restoration (1875).
• The author's early novels pose the conflict between progressive ideas and conservative ideas which, in his view, prevented the modernization of the country. Texts from this period include titles such as La Fontana de Oro or Doña Perfecta.

Leopoldo Alas "Clarín"

Leopoldo Alas, who wrote under the pseudonym of Clarín, was born in Zamora in 1852 and moved to Oviedo with his family in 1863. He studied law and was a professor at the University of Oviedo from 1883 until his death in 1901. He was also a renowned journalist and literary critic.

Clarín's Narrative Work

Clarín is the author of two novels, La Regenta and Su único hijo, and numerous short stories. These include titles such as Pipa, Doña Berta, or Adiós, Cordera!. His most important work is La Regenta, considered one of the best novels of the nineteenth century.