The Spanish Novel in Postwar Spain: Currents & Authors

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and its aftermath in the 1940s brought profound upheaval to all aspects of Spanish life. In the realm of literature, censorship and the country's isolation closed its borders to European literary currents. The novel emerged as the chosen genre for authors of this period, often seeking to restore realism.

The Postwar Novel: Restoring Realism and Tremendismo

Works from this era, while sometimes lacking the innovations of the 19th-century novel in terms of themes or traditional techniques, nonetheless achieved significant quality. Authors like José María Gironella, though perhaps not aesthetically groundbreaking, adopted an existential and despairing tone, reflecting the "unknown moment" of the time. Many felt the urgent need to denounce the misery and distress of a violent and scatological country. The themes in their works often produced anguish, leading their novels to be labeled "alarmist" and representative of Tremendismo.

Key Authors and Their Contributions

• Camilo José Cela (1916-2002)

  The Galician writer, Nobel laureate in 1989, is a prime example of this period. His notable works include:

  • La familia de Pascual Duarte (1942): Recounts the confession of a condemned man attempting to justify his crimes as a consequence of his lived circumstances.
  • La colmena (1951): A story of Madrid's inhabitants after the war, focusing on the depiction of poverty. It presents a negative worldview where characters struggle to survive, mixing tenderness and compassion.

• Carmen Laforet (1921-2004)

  Laforet, who died in Barcelona in 2004, made a significant impact with her debut novel:

  • Nada (1945): The first recipient of the Nadal Prize, this novel depicts Andrea's arrival in Barcelona and her process of personal maturation amidst moral and material misery.

• Miguel Delibes (1920-2010)

  Born in Valladolid, Delibes was a master of traditional narrative. His works often describe inner states and experiences within a pessimistic framework, frequently set in a provincial atmosphere with a sensitive protagonist navigating a hostile world. A key work is:

  • La sombra del ciprés es alargada (1947): Explores profound existential themes.
  • Cinco horas con Mario (1966): A powerful novel that analyzes personal and professional failure through the protagonist's reflections.

• Gonzalo Torrente Ballester (1910-1999)

  The Galician writer, a prolific critic and novelist, initiated Social Realism in Spain with his trilogy:

  • Los gozos y las sombras (1957-1962): Features an open narrative structure that shatters traditional time-space concepts and employs a collective protagonist. Characters form a collective Spanish reality, showing an indefinite reality "as it is." This work restored narrative techniques and showed the influence of foreign literary trends.

The Rise of Social Realism and Objectivism

The trend of Social Realism embraced objectivism, presenting reality to the reader as if through a camera lens, showing all that appeared before its eyes. This approach aimed for an unfiltered depiction of society.

• Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio (1927-2019)

  A key figure in critical realism, his work sought to stir the conscience and denounce injustices and inequalities.

  • El Jarama (1955): A seminal work of objectivist realism, depicting a day in the life of a group of young people by the Jarama river.

The Experimental Novel and New Forms of Expression (1970s)

By the 1970s, authors like Juan Goytisolo began seeking new ways of expression, leading to the birth of the Experimental Novel. This new form was characterized by:

• Breaking with linear storytelling.
• Mixing temporal planes and fusing genres.
• Alternating points of view and incorporating personal references.
• Extensive use of interior monologue as opposed to traditional dialogue.
• Changes in punctuation rules and the incorporation of technical language.
• A focus on the individual protagonist struggling against society, often rejecting the use of a collective protagonist.

Notable Experimental Works

• Juan Goytisolo (1931-2017)

  A pioneer of the experimental novel, his early work includes:

  • Duelo en el Paraíso (1955): An early example of his critical and innovative approach.

• Luis Martín-Santos (1924-1964)

  His work is often seen as a bridge to the experimental novel, analyzing profound societal issues.

  • Tiempo de silencio (1962): A landmark novel that analyzes the personal and professional failure of its protagonist within a complex, fragmented narrative.