THE EMERGENCE OF THE SPANISH PENINSULAR CAMPUS NOVEL

Abstract

This doctoral dissertation identifies a new sub-genre in Contemporary Spanish Peninsular Literature, the Spanish Campus Novel. The impetus for research was to ascertain whether or not the genre characterized the Spanish novels dealing with university life (SpCN). The texts in question build upon the British and American Campus Novel tradition while inflecting it with issues, styles and themes particular to Spanish literature. I examined nine examples of the Spanish Campus Novel (SpCN) to determine their distinctive characteristics: Carlota Fainberg, Antonio Muñoz Molina (1999); El inquilino (1989) and La velocidad de la luz (2005), Javier Cercas; Todas las almas (1989) and Negra espalda del tiempo (1998), Javier Marias; El enigma (2002), Josefina Aldecoa; Último domingo en Londres (1997), Laura Freixas; Mimoun (1988), Rafael Chirbes; and Soy un escritor frustrado (1996), José Angel Mañas. In spite of variances in the circumstances of the protagonists, the repetition of key elements created a justification for the academic novel classification. Chapter One reviewed criticism of the Anglo academic novel and established essential characteristics of the majority of the novels: campus location, academic protagonist, satire and humor, job-insecurity, political correctness and departmental politics. I reviewed the socio-political history of the Spanish university in order to contextualize the SpCN, both its paucity and its recent emergence. Chapter Two examines the works of Antonio Muñoz Molina and Javier Cercas; their protagonists share the commonality of living and working in the US. Chapter Three considers two novels of Javier Marías and how the author plays with the both the academic novel and fiction. Chapter Four reviews the novels by Josefina Aldecoa and Laura Freixas and the manner in which stereotypical professors (sexually predatory ones) imply certain cultural mores. Chapter Five investigates the lyrical novel of Rafael Chirbes and its contribution to the campus novel. Additionally, José Angel Mañas’ bleak comedy is investigated as unique, the only novel taking place in Spain. The conclusion summarizes the novels, the identified Anglo and Spanish characteristics and contextualizes the novels within current trends in recent Spanish Peninsular fiction. Lastly, an overview of four Latin American Campus Novels is suggested for further research