Luis Cernuda and the Record of a Critic

Estudios sobre poesia espanola contemporanea, written by Luis Cernuda (1902-1963), encompasses a collection of short essays the Sevillean poet organized during the years 1955 to 1957, covering the Spanish Romanticism, the Second Republic generation and the contemporary artists of the 1950s. We concentrate on his Estudios in order to confront two conflicting versions: one that corresponds to the poet's rigorous approach, the same rigor found in his poetry, and the other that relates to his implacable character, his severe judgements and analytical resentment, some of the perspectives the critics often underline. Therefore, the present article considers the reception of Estudios, and also its relevance and situation in the Spanish literary studies.