Project of national and liberal discourse in spanish novels

Abstract

This article deals with a comparison between two Spanish Historical Novels about the Peninsular War and the first Spanish Constitution, established on 19 March 1812 by the Cádiz Cortes. These are Un siglo llama a la puerta (1963) by Ramón Solís and El asedio by Perez Reverte. According to Solís, an heroic and unitary notion of Spain is exalted, updated by the pro-Franco context. At the same time, the same national vision is connected with the liberal thought of the 19th century. On the other side, Perez Reverte writes El asedio in a very different time. Now idealized point of view about the Cadiz Cortes and liberalism has entered crisis in contemporary Spain, for what his novel demonstrates skepticism and it is related with postmodernist culture.