The post modernist historical novel in the Iberian Peninsula

a comparative analysis between João Tordo and Javier Cercas

Abstract

The historical novel, in response to changes in literature and society, has been updated and transformed, allowing history to be approached from a new perspective. Linda Hutcheon (1991) defines the postmodern historical novel as “historiographical metafiction”, in which history can be told from a point of view removed from that established by positivism. Examples of this are the works Soldados de Salamina (2001) by Javier Cercas and Anatomia dos mártires (2013) by João Tordo, in which the authors explore the fascist regimes that devastated their countries from an (ex)centric character. This article analyzes the works of these authors, situating them historically and theoretically, tracing the similarities between them and understanding how both authors use historical material and literary strategies to relive such painful moments in their countries’ past. For the analysis we rely on authors like Gÿorgy Lucáks (2011), Hayden White (1995) and Linda Hutcheon (1991).