Novela postcrisis en la España plurilingüe

Overview & Synopsis

This book examines the evolution of contemporary Spanish literature in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis, proposing the concept of the postcrisis novel. The term does not suggest the end of the crisis but rather refers to a shift in narrative focus towards the ongoing consequences and social transformations triggered by this pivotal moment. The postcrisis novel is not merely a record of the repercussions but a deeper exploration of how these events challenge and reshape cultural, political, and social landscapes. The book highlights the diverse forms of crises – economic, political, social, ecological – across different regions of Spain and explores how they have influenced the literatures of each community. These events catalyzed a repoliticization of literature, where narratives no longer align with dominant ideologies but instead highlight the fractures and inconsistencies within them. The book brings a comparative perspective to the four main literatures of the Spanish state – Catalan, Basque, Galician, and Spanish – analyzing how they reflect their respective communities’ issues not just thematically but also discursively. By studying novels published after these events, this book argues that contemporary political novels in Spain are varied, context-specific, and contingent. The comparative approach breaks away from traditional separations based on linguistic, institutional, and ideological barriers, emphasizing instead the interconnectedness of these literatures. While acknowledging each literary field’s unique characteristics, it posits that all are influenced by the political dynamics of the Spanish state. Thus, the book respects these specificities while also exploring how the repoliticization of literature in each region can be understood in relation to the others, offering a nuanced understanding of the political novel in contemporary Spain.