La The realistic engaged novel and the testimonial novel in 21st century Spain

Abstract

Due to the changes produced in the human reality of the 21st century, which not only implies a merchandised world and a generalization of values, but an individualist vision that produces enormous economic and social inequalities, current literature has adapted to the new scenario, presenting the challenges of modern society. The Spanish narrative has followed this tendency to engage with the current reality and to account for it, creating novels of both engaging and testimonial value. Both are characterized by their denunciatory nature, with the difference that the characters and actions of the testimonial novels have an identifiable reference outside the work and the authenticity of the narrative can be revised, while in a realistic text it is not possible to do so. Although this distinction is not new, the modality of the realistic engaged novel and the testimonial novel in the context that implies the globalized Spain in the 21st century has certain particular features