Fall 2018

Reading Spain

Listed in: Spanish, as SPAN-389

Faculty

Sara J. Brenneis (Section 01)

Description

In this course, we will examine five works of fiction published in Spain between 1950 and today. The Spanish Civil War ended in 1939 with the beginning of Francisco Franco’s 36-year dictatorship of Spain. Authors in 20th Century Spain were subject to censorship and overt oppression while they attempted to understand their own history and identity and translate it onto the page. Despite these obstacles, these authors produced works of literature that are daring, experimental, emotional, and now canonical. The novels we study bridge the topics of violence, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, cultural repression, and self-understanding. They vary from coming-of-age tales to experimental narrative to mainstream bestsellers. We will also study historical texts, images, films, and critical articles in order to gain a more complete understanding of the era and its reflection in literature. This is a highly collaborative and participatory course that allows for the discussion of a wide variety of subject matter. Conducted in Spanish.

Requisite: SPAN 211 or consent of the instructor. Fall semester. Professor Brenneis.

SPAN 389 - L/D

Section 01
M 02:00 PM - 03:20 PM FOHA 109
W 02:00 PM - 03:20 PM FOHA 109

This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.

ISBN Title Publisher Author(s) Comment Book Store Price
Requiem por un campesino español Ediciones Destino (Spain) Ramón J. Sender paperback (required) Amherst Books TBD
Primera memoria Ediciones Destino (Spain) Ana María Matute paperback (required) Amherst Books TBD
Tiempo de silencio Seix-Barral (Spain) Luís Martín-Santos paperback (required) Amherst Books TBD
El cuarto de atrás Ediciones Destino (Spain) Carmen Martín Gaite paperback (required) Amherst Books TBD
La sombra del viento Editorial Planeta (Spain) Carlos Ruíz Zafón paperback – cheapest edition (required) Amherst Books TBD

These books are available locally at Amherst Books.

Offerings

2024-25: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2017, Fall 2018