Designed for students with an advanced level of Spanish, this course explores the dynamic relationship between literature and history in modern Spain. Through close reading and discussion, students examine narratives shaped by the Spanish Civil War and Francoist dictatorship, including retrospective works from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Featuring authors such as Dulce Chacón, Almudena Grandes, Camilo José Cela, and Javier Cercas, among others, the course investigates themes of memory, resistance, and identity, while fostering language proficiency through critical engagement with complex texts and cultural contexts.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

TEXTBOOK

• Tutor supplied material

COURSE OUTLINE

We will explore and discuss key excerpts from the following novels, each offering rich insights into the dramatism and human depth of the Civil War and the postwar period:

• La familia de Pascual Duarte by Nobel Price winner Camilo José Cela, 1942
• El año del diluvio by Eduardo Mendoza, 1992
• La voz dormida by Dulce Chacón, 2002
• Las tres bodas de Manolita by Almudena Grandes, 2014
• El impostor by Javier Cercas, 2014

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1.Expand vocabulary through engagement with thematically rich literary texts and guided discussions.
2. Improve speaking skills, gaining fluency and confidence in articulating ideas and interpretations in Spanish.
3. Broaden knowledge of Spain’s historical context, focusing on the Civil War and postwar period as explored through literature.
4. Become familiar with the literary works and stylistic nuances of featured authors, recognising their contributions to Spanish cultural and historical memory.