Exiles: Spanish Writers in North America

One of the least known aspects of contemporary Spanish history is the rich cultural contribution by numerous Spaniards who lived and died in exile. Being a nation that from its origins forged its identity not in linguistic or legal unity, but in ideology, exclusion due to differences was a constant. From the first expulsions of Jews and Muslims at the end of the 15th-century, the contributions of the Sephardics and the Andalusians were frequent in the melancholic culture of exile. In this course we will examine the Spanish exiles’ contributions to strengthening Spanish studies in the United States and Mexico. Franco’s victory in the Spanish Civil War triggered the last great wave of exiles to America. Educational and cultural institutions which had already established close ties with the intellectual Republicans, generously accepted these exiles. Their work, influenced by their absence, continued to center on the Spanish culture, thus contributing to the North America’s interest in cultural contributions by a Spain that only existed in their memories. (1 unit)

Required texts: A selection of excerpts from the following texts and authors available in Electronic form on Segue: Isabel García Lorca, Recuerdos míos (Barcelona: Tusquets editores, 2002); Jaime Salinas, Travesías (Barcelona: Tusquets editores, 2003); Victoria Kent, Cuatro años de mi vida, (1940-1944) (Barcelona: Bruguera, 1978); María Zambrano, Delirio y Destino, (Barcelona: Mondadori, 1989); Patricia Fagen, Transterrados y ciudadanos. Los republicanos españoles en México (Mexico: FCE, 1975).

This course is cross-listed with Literature