The main authors of literary realism presented a new artistic proposal that emerged in Europe in the mid-nineteenth century. It is believed to have originated in France as a response in rejection to Romanticism .
Due to the great social, economic and political changes that were developing at the time, the authors of this current implemented a new philosophical and scientific mentality in their works.
Realistic writers suggested an objective look at reality. For this reason, the literary genre that was used to highlight this analysis was the novel.
Realism is characterized by having achieved a rigorous documentation of the contemporary society of the author, emphasizing social criticism by means of a simple and sober language.
Main authors of literary realism
The following authors are recognized worldwide by the impact that their works generated, each one carries its own style where they represent the habitual one of objective way.
1- Gustave Flaubert - France
Gustave Flaubert is a renowned French writer, born on December 12, 1821. He is considered one of the greatest novelists in the literature of the nineteenth century.
Among his works highlights Madame Bovary, for being a revolutionary novel, realistic and controversial.
It not only presents in detail the psychological factors of the characters, but also a strong criticism of French society from the daily life of the people of Yonville.
Nevertheless, his work was not exempt of the negative reaction on the part of the society of the time, that took to court by immoral and unethical. Fortunately, the court ruling ruled in his favor. He died on May 8, 1880.
2- Henrik Ibsen - Norway
Henrik Johan Ibsen was born in Norway on March 20, 1928 and died on May 23, 1906, at age 78. He was a Norwegian poet and playwright.
In his works he questioned the values, the familiar models, the social problems of his time and turned them into argument of debate.
Some of his works that allude to socio-critical realism are Doll's House (1989), Wraith (1881) and An Enemy of the People (1882).
3- Alexandre Dumas son - France
He was born on July 27, 1824 and died on November 27, 1895. He was a well-known French writer, his life experiences determined his thought and these moved them to his writings.
His novels and plays as The Lady of the Camellias (1848), were very successful by their moral teachings and their great scrutiny to the social denunciations. In particular, it advocated the rights of children and women.
4- Henry James - United States
Henry James (1843-1916) was an American whose stories and novels were loaded by a great psychological tension.
He studied Literature and was characterized by providing the characters with a new conception of force that revolved around the inner world.
His most important work was The art of the novel. However, the reception was not to the liking of the audience, until now.
5- Guy de Maupassant - France
The French writer (1850-1893) represents at the beginning of the nineteenth century a real image of daily life, with characters full of problems and social prejudices.
With only 10 years in literary production he left a large collection of works with more than six novels, 300 short stories, several volumes of journalistic chronicles, etc.
His language opted for a colloquial and critical, under the meticulous concept of truth where he managed to represent the objectivity around him
6- Stendhal - France
French writer whose real name was Marie-Henri Beyle, but was known by its psudónimo Stendhal.
He represented man within a society in constant evolution and restrained by economic and political events.
Armancy (1826), Red and Black (1830) and La Cartuja of Parma (1839), are only some of his works.
7- Dostoyevsky - Russia
Fedor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) is one of the literary representatives of Russian realism. His truthful objectivity, psychological studies on the behavior of life and human conflicts, have an incalculable aesthetic value.
His novels led the reader to consider the humanist conception of the world and to think about the interior renewal of man.
Some of his works are Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, Humiliated and Offended.
8- Leo Tolstoy - Russia
Lev Nikolayevich Thyssen (1828-1910), is known for works as Anna Karenina Y War and peace, novels admired by realistic exponents.
They reflect a sense of diversity in the Russian society of the time, as well as the beliefs and experiences of the characters themselves.
9- Charles Dickens - England
Charles Dickens (1812-1865) was an outstanding writer of the Victorian era. He earned his living by writing and was gradually moving up into his personal aspirations as a writer.
He was always in favor of charitable associations that made social reforms, and above all, was against slavery.
Among his most outstanding works are Oliver Twist , History of Two Cities, Hard Times Y A Christmas Carol .
The sentimentality of their stories in contrast to the harshness of cruel reality helps denounce an unequal society, which did not care about the hardships of the lower class.
10- Honoré de Balzac- France
Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) is valued by many as the founder of the realist novel. In his works, the tireless reflection on the representation of French society is distinguished.
His first major selling success and most famous novel was Eugenia Grandet (1833).
References
- Barrish, Phillip. (2001). American Literary Realism: Critical Theory and Intellectual Prestige , 1880-1995 . Cambridge, Oxford.
- Becker, George. (1963). Documents of Modern Literary Realism . Princeton, Princeton University Press.
- Glazener, Nancy. (1997). Reading for Realism: The History of Literary Institution . Durham, Duke University Press.
- . (2008) Universal literature . Barcelona, Almadraba.
- Ferre, Jordi and Cañuelo, Susana. (2002). History of world literature. Barcelona, Spain. Great.
- Pizer, Donald. (1998). Documents of American Realism and Naturalism . Carbondale and Edwardsville, Southern Illinois.