Our literature, which ends in the Pyrenees and sometimes turns surreal in the Canary Islands, which leaps from Valencia to Extremadura, passing through a La Mancha brimming with great myths and stories, lays the foundation for a world of letters that never ceases to reinvent itself, to evolve. These best Spanish books in history confirm it.
The best Spanish books in history
La Celestina, by Fernando de Rojas
Although the first versions of the work appeared during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, it wasn't until the 14th century that one of the masterpieces of Spanish literature achieved the success that would catapult it to become a genre in itself, a literary and cultural phenomenon. Treated as a " tragicomedy ," La Celestina tells the story of two young people, Calisto and Melibea, brought together by the machinations of a prostitute known as "Celestina." The work was banned during the Inquisition, resurfacing later.
Lazarillo de tormes
Although its exact publication date is unknown, the oldest versions of one of the great works of Spanish literature date back to 1554. This is the era in which the protagonist, Lazarillo de Tormes , is forced to survive from a miserable childhood to his marriage, encountering characters such as the famous blind man whom he deceives during part of the narrative. Considered an ode to the disillusionment of an age and the hypocrisy of a society corrupted by the clergy, Lazarillo de Tormes was banned until the 19th century by the Inquisition, which the anonymous author of the work defied.
Don Quixote de la Mancha, by Miguel de Cervantes
Published in early 1605, Don Quixote would forever change not only the course of literature in Spain , but also throughout the world. The story of the nobleman whose excessive reading of chivalric romances led him to mistake the windmills of La Mancha for giants was more than just a farcical novel; it was an amalgam of timeless and polyphonic references, whose different perspectives on the protagonist revolutionized narrative and the approach to realism. Undoubtedly, it is the most universal work of Spanish literature.
Have you not read " Don Quixote " yet?
Fortunata and Jacinta, by Benito Pérez Galdós
Considered by many to be Galdós's best work , perhaps also influenced by La Regenta , published shortly before by his friend Leopoldo Alas ClarÃn, Fortunata y Jacinta tells the story of two women. One, Fortunata, is rough and unsophisticated, while Jacinta is refined and from a good family—two opposite poles who ultimately meet due to a tragic twist of fate. The novel was published in 1887 after a year and a half of work by Galdós, who invested the greatest efforts of his career in this project.
Would you like to read Fortunata and Jacinta?
Reeds and clay, by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez
In 1902, Spain was disillusioned with itself. We had lost Cuba, the last stronghold of a great empire, which forced us to look inward, toward our own country, one with distorted values ​​and unwanted legacies. Part of the essence of this era defines Reeds and Mud , a novel by Blasco Ibáñez set in the Albufera of Valencia. It weaves a tale of rebellion between the protagonist, Tonet, and his grandfather and father, two humble farmers, and his love story with Neleta. A key work of naturalism , Reeds and Mud is a novel with a focus on local customs, as solid as it is captivating.
The family of Pascual Duarte, by Camilo José Cela
Spanish literature has allowed us to approach the reality of each era, and some works have even managed to bring together all these experiences in a single piece. This is the case with Camilo José Cela's best novel , published in 1942, a portrait of a man from rural Extremadura from 1882 to 1937, a period of political upheaval in Spain. This pivotal era, in turn, encompasses elements of naturalism, realism, and social realism , all of which defined a time that culminated in a Civil War with devastating consequences for Spain.
Read The Family of Pascual Duarte.
Nada, by Carmen Laforet
Andrea is a young woman who moves to Barcelona to study Philosophy and Literature. This new chapter finds her grappling with her family's internal conflicts and the relationships that emerge during her university experience. A voice of the post-war era , Nada won the inaugural Nadal Prize, opening new doors for literature and, specifically, for female writers, with Laforet becoming a role model.
Five hours with Mario, by Miguel Delibes
After losing her husband, a woman is tasked with watching over his body at night. On the nightstand are Bible verses underlined by her husband, a trigger that leads the protagonist to mutter a disjointed monologue in which she expresses the passions and blunders of a lifetime. This moment serves to summarize the role of Spanish women in the 20th century in a unique, intelligent way… so characteristic of Delibes.
Five hours with Mario is a true marvel.
Heart so white, by Javier MarÃas
«I did not want to know, but I have learned that one of the girls, when she was no longer a child and had not long since returned from her wedding trip, entered the bathroom, stood in front of the mirror, opened her blouse , she took off her bra and reached for her heart with the tip of the gun ... »
This mythical opening marks the beginning of one of the great contemporary works of our literature and a huge bestseller after its publication in 1992. A Heart So White , whose latest edition was released in 2017 to mark its 25th anniversary, tells the story of a newlywed protagonist whose honeymoon in Havana holds more than one surprise for his marriage.
Soldiers of Salamina, by Javier Cercas
Defined by many as an example of faction (fact + fiction), Soldiers of Salamis , published in 2001, arose from Cercas's obsession with the soldier who saved Rafael Sánchez Mazas, a writer for the Spanish Falange and a friend of Franco , who escaped a mass execution in Barcelona during the twilight of the Spanish Civil War. A perfect combination of fantasy and reality that, more than an attempt to bring us closer to the great Spanish conflict of the 20th century, focuses on the pleasure of "reliving" in a time of despair.
What are the best Spanish books in history for you?