Unamuno, Baroja, and Azorín: Spanish Literature

Miguel de Unamuno: San Manuel Bueno, Mártir

Born in Bilbao in 1864, Miguel de Unamuno obtained a professorship and became rector of the University of Salamanca. He was dismissed for political reasons, opposed to the military. He was arrested at his home and died in Salamanca in 1936. Unamuno was one of the most prestigious intellectuals in and outside of Spain. A man of battles and deep religious convictions, Unamuno has a varied literary production: essays, novels, poetry, and drama. However, he excels in his essayistic work.

Unamuno's novels are a projection of his personal problems and concerns. Highlights include:

• Abel Sánchez, which addresses the fratricide between two friends.
• La Tía Tula, about motherhood.
• San Manuel Bueno, Mártir, where he again addresses the issue of immortality to portray the anguish of a priest who has lost faith but feels obliged to address his congregation spiritually.

Pío Baroja: Zalacaín el Aventurero

Pío Baroja (1872-1956), born in San Sebastián, studied and practiced medicine, but he did not enjoy it. He had a great friendship with Azorín and Maeztu, with whom he formed the group of "The Three," the core originating the Generation of '98. Baroja is the most important novelist of his generation. In his stories, action dominates, where intrigue and adventure take the principal place.

He wrote over 60 novels, including:

• La Busca, an overview of the slums of Madrid.
• El Árbol de la Ciencia, largely autobiographical.
• Las Inquietudes de Shanti Andía, with a maritime and Basque atmosphere.

In Zalacaín el Aventurero, Martín Zalacaín is a popular hero who has a tragic ending, which gives a romantic tinge to the action. The work unfolds in the Basque provinces and Navarre during the Second Carlist War.

José Martínez Ruiz, Azorín: La Voluntad

José Martínez Ruiz (1873-1967), better known as Azorín, was born in Monóvar (Alicante). He studied law but soon turned to journalism. He was a good friend of Baroja and Maeztu and is the most representative writer of the Generation of '98. He wrote essays, novels, and plays.

His novels are often autobiographical, dominated by the description of environments, landscapes, and types. The primary objective of his work is the perception of the details of things and the expression of a simple, clear, and precise style.