5 authors of CONTEMPORARY literature and their works

contemporary literature is one that refers to the literary styles that arose from the year 1940, to the present. This period is characterized mainly by advances in technology and constant changes at a political, social and cultural level.

In this lesson from a PROFESSOR we are going to discover the main authors of the contemporary literature and his works most relevant.

The contemporary literature finds its origin when the Second World War. This is one of the main events that triggered the change in social mentality that has lasted until now. At that time, literature evolves towards a current with a character of fiction, mystery and fantasy, with works based on real life events.

In addition, it must be taken into account that technological and industrial innovations have allowed the number of publications of the works increases greatly, with respect to previous times. This is the effect of large-scale copy printing.

The new culture goes from offering an exclusive literature destined only for a few, to being a

mass consumption in which people are attracted to new genres of contemporary literature, such as comics, science fiction, etc.

The authors of contemporary literature they reflect his thinking breaking with the models and aesthetic parameters that reigned in previous times, such as the Renaissance, the Baroque or the Enlightenment. There are several authors who stand out in this current of literature and some of their works have been the most outstanding throughout the contemporary period, which continues to this day. We present them to you.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927-2014)

Gabriel Garcia Marquez was a Colombian writer and journalist, known for his magical realism work. Major works by him include one hundred years of solitude (1967), Love in the time of cholera (1985) and The Autumn of the Patriarch (1975).

one hundred years of solitudeIt is considered one of the most important works of Latin American literature and has become a classic of world literature. This novel tells the story of several generations of a family in an imaginary town called Macondo, and combines elements of the historical fact and fiction.

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)

Jean Paul Sartre He was a French philosopher, writer and playwright, one of the main representatives of existentialism. Major works by him include Being and Nothingness (1943), the nausea (1938) and The wall (1939). He also wrote several plays, including The damned (1949) and The respectful whore (1947). In addition to his literary and philosophical work, Sartre was also a political activist and a defender of individual liberty and social equality.

Cousin Levi (1919-1987)

Cousin Levi He was an Italian writer and chemist, Holocaust survivor and one of the main written testimonies about the Nazi era. His main works are if this is a Man (1947), Truce (1963) and The sunken and the saved (1986).

if this is a Man is a detailed description of his experience in the Auschwitz concentration camp, while Truce it is a reflection on her journey back home after her release from him. His works are considered some of the most important and moving works on the Holocaust and humanity.

George Orwell (1903-1950)

George Orwell was a British writer, journalist and author, known for his social and political criticism in his works. Some of his best known works are Rebelion on the farm (1945), A happy world (1949) and 1984 (1949). These works are recognized for their criticism of political oppression and totalitarianism, state surveillance, and control of information and propaganda. His works are considered to be classics of 20th century literature, and his ideas and themes are still relevant today.

Albert Camus (1913-1960)

Albert Camus He was a French writer, philosopher, and journalist, known for his work that addresses issues of existentialism and absurdism. His main works were Abroad (1942), Plague (1947) and The myth of Sisyphus (1942). In Abroad the nature of human existence and the relationship between the individual and society are questioned, Plague it is a metaphor for oppression and resistance against authoritarianism. The myth of Sisyphus is an essay in which he reflects on the meaning of life and the human condition. Camus is also known for his defense of individual freedom and his opposition to totalitarianism.

now you know contemporary literature and what are its most prominent authors and works so far. If you are interested in discovering more literary movements that have taken place throughout history, do not hesitate to consult our section on the history of literature.