Spanish literature originates in the 12th century, when the Spanish language was born and finally took shape . Prior to this, the peoples who lived in the territory of modern Spain wrote and communicated exclusively in Latin. The entire history of this literature can be divided into four periods. This is the period of origin, the period of prosperity, the period of decline and imitation and the period of rebirth.
"A Song of My Side"
The period of the origin of Spanish literature is one of the oldest surviving works of the Spaniards called "Song of My Side." In it, an unknown author praises a national hero named Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, who is known to many under the Arabic nickname Sid.
Presumably, it was written no later than 1200, but was not entirely preserved. Moreover, it is the "Song of My Side" that is a classic example of literature of that period. You can find patriotic motives in it, the heroes are pious, faithful and loyal to their king.
Literary scholars noted that the language of the work itself is very rude and as simple as possible, but it is imbued with the spirit of heroism, it paints a vivid picture of life during the time of chivalry.
Spanish renaissance literature
During this period, the Italian masters have a beneficial effect on the Spaniards. The leading role in poetry is Juan Boscan, who worked in the 16th century. He often turned to the traditions of Petrarch, enriching Spanish poetry with a 10-complex verse, sonnets and octaves. Often worked with antique plots. For example, in the poem "Hero and Leander".
The religious epic in literature can be studied on the basis of the works of John the Cross. He wrote the treatises in prose under the names "Dark Night of the Soul", "Living Flame of Love", "Climbing Mount Carmel."
The pastoral novel is very popular in the literature of the Spanish Renaissance. Vivid representatives of this trend are Gaspar Polo and Alonso Perez, who wrote a sequel to the popular pastoral novel by the Portuguese Montemayor "Diana Enamorada", which for a long time remained in Spain a model of a classic pastoral novel.
The literature of the Renaissance in Spain is for many associated with the advent of a rogue novel. Its distinctive features are a realistic depiction of the morals of modern society, as well as human characters. The founder of this genre in Spain is Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, who wrote the novel "Lazarillo from Tormes".
Lope de Vega
A prominent representative of Spanish literature of this period is the playwright Lope de Vega, who was born in 1562. Before him, playwrights were in Spain, but national Spanish drama did not yet exist. It was de Vega who managed to create a classic Spanish theater, to become a vivid exponent of the feelings and wishes of his people.
For about 40 years he wrote new plays, enjoying all this time very popular. In addition, he was incredibly prolific, writing more than two thousand plays, about 20 volumes of lyric poems, as well as many poems. Lope de Vega had a significant impact on the next generation of writers, not only Spanish, but also Italian and French playwrights. It is with his name that the flowering of Spanish drama is associated.
In his plays, the author touches on various topics - foreign and domestic history, socio-political, love dramas and historical chronicles. The historical layer occupies a separate place in his works. The plays of the playwright are structured in such a way that some random events constantly bring in the development of the plot, which bring the drama of the work to the degree of tragedy. Romantic intrigue often helps to unleash the full power of the human instincts of the main characters, Lope de Vega shows a variety of human characters, patterns of behavior in society and family, while not forgetting the religious and political ideas that prevail among his contemporaries.
Perhaps his most famous work is the comedy in three acts, The Dog in the Hay. This is one of the most famous books of the golden age of Spanish literature. He wrote it in 1618. At the center of the story is a young widow from Naples named Diana. Her heart is taken over by Secretary Theodoro. However, the situation is aggravated due to the fact that Theodoro himself sympathizes with her servant Marseille, they even have a wedding planned.
Diana unsuccessfully tries to cope with her feelings. Then she writes a letter to her chosen one on behalf of a fictional Roman girlfriend, in which she confesses her feelings and asks the young man to evaluate this text and rewrite it with her hand. A man realizes its true causes, realizing at the same time that there is a whole gap between them. Marcela is exhausted from jealousy, moreover, Diana locks her in her bedchamber for several days.
Theodoro himself is going through hard times at this time, the countess plays with him, first giving hope for a future relationship, and then pushing him away from herself. As a result, Theodoro breaks up with Marcelo to take revenge on him, the girl draws closer to her servant Fabio.
Theodoro at some point breaks down, splashing out on the countess all the emotions that have accumulated in him during this time. The main thing is that he reproaches Diana that she behaves like a dog in the manger. Diana slaps the young man in the face, behind which lies the real passion she has for the young man. This fascinating story still keeps the audience in suspense, the play regularly goes on stages of theaters around the world.
The author's work falls on the period of the golden age of Spanish literature.
Calderon
17th century Spanish literature is for many associated with the name Calderon. He was not only a poet, but also a successful warrior and priest. No less popular than Lope de Vega.
He demonstrated a high level of skill in building the plot, as well as in various stage effects, which he actively applied in his works.
Calderon, like Lope de Vega, wrote many plays - about 200, and abroad was much more popular than at home. Literary critics of the time put him on a par with Shakespeare. There are still some of his plays in Spanish theaters.
His works can be divided into three types. These are dramas of honor, they are dominated by baroque issues - religion, love and honor. The key conflict is often associated with the need to comply with them, even sacrificing human life. Although the action is transferred to the distant past, the author raises the pressing problems of his time. These are dramas such as "Salamean Alcald", "Painter of His dishonor," "The Resistant Prince".
The philosophical dramas, which were very popular in 17th-century Spanish literature, touch upon the fundamental questions of being, human suffering, free will. At the same time, the action is transferred to exotic countries for Spain, for example, Russia or Ireland, to emphasize the local and historical flavor. Among the examples are the works “The Magical Mage”, “Life is a Dream”, “Purgatory of St. Patrick”. Spanish literature about Russia at that time was interesting to many contemporaries of Calderon, so it was so popular.
And finally, the comedies of Calderon’s intrigue are built according to classical canons. They have a fascinating, often love affair, the initiators of which are women. You can often meet the famous “Calderon move”, when objects that happen to be heroes by chance, or letters that came to them by mistake play a key role.
Cervantes
The study of Spanish literature for novice literature connoisseurs must begin with the famous novel by Miguel de Cervantes "Don Quixote". This is one of the most significant literary works in world history. The first part of this novel was released in 1605. Initially, the work was conceived as a parody of chivalric novels. As a result, it became so popular that it was translated into all European languages.
Cervantes in an ironic way talks about the adventures of a cunning hidalgo who is trying to live according to the old chivalric order, although the world around has changed fundamentally. People around him make fun of him, but Don Quixote doesn’t bother him at all, he, not paying attention to the opinions of others, is fighting the windmills. Only his servant Sancho Panso, who endures all the eccentricities of his master, remains faithful and devoted to him.
Cervantes is also known as the author of numerous short stories, which depict the absolute truth of life, imbued with a national graceful spirit. In his stories, he portrays the era as realistically as possible, striking the reader with a rich and vibrant language. This is a striking example of Spanish classical literature.
Baroque
There has been a period of decline and imitation in the history of Spanish literature. It coincides with the era of Spanish Baroque, which began at the end of the XVI century. It was then that the school of gongrism arose, named after its main and most prominent representative, Louis Gongor.
The early works of this author are songs and romances written in a folk spirit. In the later period of his work, he was distinguished by a confused, pompous and sometimes artificial syllable, which saturated a large number of metaphors and strange turns. Often his works were so complex in form that not every reader could understand. The main theme was the idea of the fragility and inconstancy of human existence in this world. These are the features characteristic of the Spanish Baroque.
He had many students and imitators, among which we can mention Villamed, who, like the others, set as his main goal to maximally repeat the style of the teacher.
19th century literature
In the 19th century, Spanish literature flourished. At this time, the prevailing pseudo-classicism was supplanted by romanticism. One of the most prominent representatives of this era is Jose Mariano de Larra, who created under the pseudonym Figaro. He had an incredibly vivid satirical talent, which was combined with natural ingenuity and an inquiring mind. He depicts the ulcers and vices prevailing in society, creating informative, but at the same time very short essays.
If we talk about the more serious dramatic Spanish literature of the 19th century, then it is necessary to mention Manuel Tamayo i Baus, who actually introduced a new genre - the Spanish psychological and realistic drama, based on the best German samples. True, his works practically did not translate into Russian, so it is not easy for the Russian reader to evaluate his talent.
Among the representatives of realism, the prose writer Juan Valera stands out. A graduate of the Faculty of Law of the University of Granada, he held high posts in the diplomatic service, having traveled halfway around the world. He finally returned to Spain after the revolution of 1868, holding a number of government posts up to the Minister of Education.
In Spanish literature, Valera made his debut as a collection of soulful lyric poems, then he wrote speeches and critical articles in which he depicted the current situation of national literature. A notable phenomenon in his creative biography is the novel "Pepita Jimenez", after which he writes the works that left a mark, "Juanita Long", "Illusions of Dr. Faustino." During his travels around the world, Valera traveled to Russia, he left detailed notes about his trip.
If we talk about fiction writers in Spanish literature of this period, then Benito Perez Galdos has an obvious primacy, whose novels had a fresh look at ordinary things, realistic and unusually lively paintings illustrating modern Spanish life.
XX century
Spanish literature of the 20th century plays a large role in public life. At the very beginning of the century, its foundation is made up of representatives of the "Generation 98". This is how a group of Spanish writers call themselves, who are experiencing an acute crisis due to the final collapse of the empire in 1898. Most of them from the beginning of the XX century from 35 to 45 years.
One of the largest representatives of this area is Vicente Blasco Ibáñez. This is a famous social novelist who in his work embodied the ideas of democratic criticism of the surrounding reality.
The most popular were his novels. In Spanish fiction, a special place is occupied by the work "Cursed Farm". Events unfold in a small village near Valencia. In the center of the story is a landowner who earns usury, as well as his tenants.
The novel “In Orange Gardens” shows the relationship between the young politician and lawyer Rafael Brull and the popular singer Leonora. Ibáñez, as he often does in his works, describes several generations of the same family, tells how her members climbed the career and status ladder. His characters live in a religious and very conservative family, which is opposed by the doctor and intellectual Dr. Moreno, he is a Republican by his own beliefs.
Another famous book by Ibanez “Reed and Silt” is a vivid story about three generations of fishermen who live and work on the shores of a small lake in Albufera. It was her author who himself considered his best work. It depicts Paloma's grandfather, the oldest fisherman in the entire village, who monitors the observance of professional traditions and in every way defends the honor of the family. His son Tono is a decent and hardworking man who leaves his father's profession in order to start cultivating the land and make money on it. And here is his son named Thonet the idler, who is not capable of any work, and spends most of his time in outdoor parties and in entertainment venues.
Federico Garcia Lorca
The real classic of Spanish literature in the XX century is the work of the poet Federico Garcia Lorca. He is called the key figure of the “generation of 27 years”, which included Spanish writers and poets who considered themselves followers of the Spanish Baroque poet Luis de Gongora. In 1927, it was exactly 300 years since his death.
As a child, Lorca studied poorly, but in the 1910s he began to show his worth in local art communities. In 1918 he released his first poetry collection entitled "Impressions and Landscapes", which immediately made him famous, although he did not bring a lot of money.
In 1919, Lorca in Madrid met with the most significant artists of his time - director Luis Bunuel and artist Salvador Dali. In the same period, he begins to write his first dramatic works.
As a result, it becomes a prominent figure among avant-garde artists, releasing poetry collections “Gypsy Romancero”, in which he tries to mix the mythology of Gypsies with the everyday routine surrounding him.
For about a year, Lorca leaves for America, and when she returns, she finds the emerging Second Spanish Republic. His work is called by many a real breakthrough in Spanish literature. The poet and playwright works a lot in the theater, creating his famous plays “The House of Bernard Alba”, “Bloody Weddings” and “Yerma”.
In Spain, the Civil War begins in 1936. Lorca has a sympathy for the left, so he is forced to leave for Granada from the capital. But there he is overtaken by danger. The poet is arrested and, according to the main version, shot the next day. After his assassination, General Franco, who came to power, prohibits all his work. The adapted literature in the Spanish language in Russia has long been studied precisely from the works of Lorca.
Jose Ortega y Gasset
Another bright representative of 20th century literature is the writer and philosopher José Ortega y Gasset. Popularity came to him in 1914, when he released his first work entitled "Reflections on Don Quixote." In his philosophical lectures, he adhered to the position of young intellectuals of his time, some researchers believe that it was his work that played a special role in the fall of the monarchy.
Among his most famous works, it should be noted such as "The theme of our time", "Dehumanization of art." Formulating his key philosophical ideas, he insists that a person cannot consider himself in isolation from historical circumstances and the people around him.
Popularity outside of Spain came to him after the publication of the work “Rise of the Masses”, in which he announces that the only existing reality is human being-with-things. Ortega was convinced that, with his conclusions, he anticipated many of Martin Heidegger's ideas, which were presented in 1927 in Genesis and Time.
Ortega played a large role in the formation of the Spanish philosophical school, engaged in teaching activities. For example, the basis of the book “What is Philosophy” was his lectures given in 1929 at the University of Madrid.
Arturo Perez-Reverte
In modern Spanish literature, the loudest and most famous name is Arturo Perez-Reverte. This is our contemporary, who is 66 years old. From the beginning of the 70s he worked as a war correspondent, covering conflicts in hot spots around the world.
He dedicated his first novel, The Hussar, to the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Real success came to him in 1990, when the novel "Flemish board" was released. This is a fascinating mix of action-packed detective story and a fascinating book. The main characters during the restoration of a 15th-century painting discover an inscription hidden from prying eyes. The picture depicts a chess position, analyzing the arrangement of figures on it, the characters are trying to solve the mysterious murder that was committed in the 15th century.
In 1994, the novel was filmed by Jim McBride.
In 1993, Perez-Reverte wrote another of his famous work - this is the novel "Club Dumas, or Shadow of Richelieu." The events in it are no less exciting. The action takes place in the world of books. All the heroes are second-hand book dealers, bibliophiles, bookbinders or just passionate lovers and book fans. Among them are those who prefer novels "cloak and epee", and those who love detective stories or works on demonology.
One of them is the bibliophile Varo Borja, who hires a specialist to compare among themselves three well-known copies of a unique publication called “The Book of the Nine Gates to the Kingdom of Shadows,” which was published in 1666 by a little-known printer Aristide Torquia. Later, the Holy Inquisition was accused of heresy by Torquay, and then burned at the stake. The circulation of the book was almost completely destroyed, only a few copies have survived to our time.
Borja admits that he studied the interrogations of the printer, from which it follows that there is another copy of this book, hidden in a secret place. This fact haunts the protagonist. He wants, by all means, to find out which of the three copies is the real one.
This task, which is not complicated at first glance, turns into big trouble for the researcher. Someone is chasing him, killing everyone with whom he meets or intersects in any way. At the end of the work, most of the puzzles get a very unexpected explanation. Only the main riddle fails to explain in a rational way. The only conclusion that begs the reader, based on hints and indirect evidence scattered by the author throughout the novel, is incredible and fantastic.
This novel was also filmed. The director was the legendary Roman Polanski, and the main roles were played by Johnny Depp, Lena Olin and Emmanuelle Seigner.
There is also a whole series of works that glorified Perez-Reverte. These are historical and adventure novels from the series "The Adventures of Captain Alatriste." In 1996, the series “Captain Alatriste” opened the series, followed by “Pure Blood”, “Spanish Fury”, “Gold of the King”, “Cavalier in the Yellow Coat”, “Corsairs of the Levant”, and “Bridge of Assassins”.