Gender and Memory in the Postmillennial Novels of Almudena Grandes

Almudena Grandes is one of Spain's most prominent women writers, having sold over 1.1 million copies of her six-volume series that spans from the Spanish Civil War to the democratic period. Lorraine Ryan's book explores the hidden dimensions of Grandes' work through gendered, philosophical, and mnemonic theoretical concepts. It debunks the arguments of those who portray Grandes as the proponent of a sectarian, biased Republican memory by analyzing the wide variety of gender and perpetrator memories that proliferate in her work. Ryan reconfigures the Republican victim in the novels as a vulnerable subject who attempts to flourish, refuting the current critical opinion of the victim as overly-empowered. Her novels generate understanding of multiple victim, perpetrator, and gender memories, producing new and meaningful engagements with these novels.

Format: Hardback
Length: 172 pages
Publication date: 22 April 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Almudena Grandes is a prominent figure in Spanish literature, renowned for her captivating six-volume series titled "Episodios de una guerra interminable," which spans from the Spanish Civil War to the democratic period. Her remarkable achievement is evident in the staggering sales figure of over 1.1 million copies, solidifying her position as one of the country's foremost women writers.

This book delves into the intricate world of Grandes' novels, exploring them through gendered, philosophical, and mnemonic theoretical frameworks. It sheds light on hidden aspects of her work, providing fresh insights and interpretations. Lorraine Ryan, the author, takes a comprehensive approach, considering and expanding on existing critical scholarship on Grandes' oeuvre. She offers new avenues for understanding, challenging prevailing notions that portray Grandes as a proponent of a sectarian, biased Republican memory.

Through a meticulous analysis of the diverse range of gender and perpetrator memories that permeate her writing, Ryan seeks to debunk the arguments that categorize Grandes as solely advocating for a Republican memory. Instead, she reveals the nuanced engagement that Grandes has with Spanish memory culture, highlighting the intersections of perpetrator memory with masculinity, ecocriticism, medical ethics, and the perspectives of children. This multifaceted examination reveals Grandes' profound understanding of the complexities of Spanish memory and her commitment to a more pluralistic notion of memory culture.

Rather than suggesting that Grandes supports perpetrator memory, this monograph aims to present new perspectives that highlight the richness and complexity of her historical novels. It suggests that Grandes is dedicated to fostering a broader understanding of memory culture, where her novels generate insights into multiple victim, perpetrator, and gender memories. This analysis leads to meaningful engagements with her works, offering a deeper appreciation of their intricate narratives.

In conclusion, Lorraine Ryan's monograph "Almudena Grandes and the Complexity of Spanish Memory" provides a valuable contribution to the study of Spanish literature. It deepens our understanding of Grandes' novels by exploring them through gendered, philosophical, and mnemonic frameworks. Ryan's analysis challenges prevailing notions and reveals the nuanced engagement with Spanish memory culture that underpins her writing. Through her exploration of gender and perpetrator memories, Ryan reconfigures the Republican victim in the novels as a vulnerable subject who strives for flourishing, challenging the overly-empowered perception of the victim in critical discourse. This monograph offers new perspectives that enrich our understanding of Grandes' historical novels, highlighting their complexity and depth. It encourages readers to engage with her works in fresh and meaningful ways, fostering a deeper appreciation of her literary contributions.

Weight: 438g
Dimension: 158 x 235 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367655235