Spanish Realism: Benito Pérez Galdós and Clarín

Life and Legacy of Benito Pérez Galdós

Benito Pérez Galdós was born in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands in 1843. He lived in Madrid, dedicated himself to literature, and became Spain's most important novelist of his time. In 1889, he was elected to the Royal Spanish Academy, and in the 20th century, Galdós was elected as a Republican deputy in 1907 and 1909. The final stretch of his life was difficult; his candidacy for the 1912 Nobel Prize failed due to opposition from Spanish conservatives. He died in Madrid in 1920. Galdós's numerous works can be classified into the following groups:

• First Novels: These are "thesis novels" that do not hide their sympathy for liberal Spain (e.g., La Fontana de Oro, Doña Perfecta, Gloria, and Marianela).
• Contemporary Spanish Novels: This period began with the publication of La desheredada. Other novels from this period include El amigo Manso, La de Bringas, and Fortunata y Jacinta. Galdós integrates memories, dreams, and imagination, resulting in a world populated by powerful individuals.
• Last Novels: In these works, original narrative procedures are attempted.
• National Episodes: This collection consists of forty-six novels arranged in five series of ten episodes each.

Leopoldo Alas "Clarín"

Leopoldo Alas "Clarín" was born in Zamora in 1852, although most of his life was spent in Oviedo—first as a student and then as a professor of Law. As a literary critic, he was formidable and mercilessly censored poor writers. Despite the brevity of his output, the quality of his narrative work makes him an essential writer. He wrote two major novels, La Regenta and Su único hijo, along with some short stories and more than a hundred tales collected in several volumes.

Spain in the Second Half of the 19th Century

During this time, capitalism was consolidated in the more advanced countries, and modern states were constituted. Socially, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat developed. Economic development led to the Second Industrial Revolution, with the appearance of new industries based on the application of the internal combustion engine and electricity.

In Spain, disputes between conservatives and liberals were constant. In 1868, the Glorious Revolution occurred, which ended the Bourbon monarchy. Throughout this period, Spanish population growth was remarkable; the number of inhabitants at the end of the century was about eighteen and a half million, though the population remained mostly rural.