Vida Nueva

Vida Nueva was a literary magazine edited in Madrid between 1898 and 1900, widely regarded as a representative of the so-called 'spirit of 98' (espíritu del 98). It was founded by Rodrigo Soriano. In its first stage the director was the playwright Eusebio Blasco, and its editorial staff included Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Jurado de la Parra, Mariano de Cavia, Francisco Fernández Villegas 'Zeda', Benito Pérez Galdós, Luis París, Jacinto Octavio Picón, Eugenio Sellés, Enrique Lluria and José Nakens. Contributors ranged from already established figures such as Emilio Castelar and Ramón de Campoamor to younger writers including Unamuno, Ramiro de Maeztu, Ángel Ganivet and Rubén Darío. The magazine published politically and culturally charged pieces: Benito Pérez Galdós reflected the atmosphere of the great disaster then being lived through in his article 'Fumándose las colonias'; Unamuno wrote his well-known articles '¡Muera Don Quijote!' and 'Renovación'. On 1 January 1899 it published a posthumous article by Ángel Ganivet titled 'Mis inventos'. It devoted a special issue (number 47) to the first of May 1899, with articles by Pi y Margall, Nicolás Estévanez Murphy, Dionisio Pérez and Santiago Alba that reflected the rising sympathy intellectuals were taking toward socialism. In its second stage (from October 1899) its director was Dionisio Pérez. Engravings appeared, a more literary selection of contributors was promoted, and a new section dedicated to presenting 'New Writers' (Escritores Nuevos) was inaugurated, featuring Valle-Inclán at twenty-nine and a very young Juan Ramón Jiménez, who at seventeen introduced himself to the literary world through this magazine, with translations of Ibsen poems in an anarchist tone and his own poetic creations, in which he spoke of 'the sadness of the needy, of the exploited, of the humble with impulses of raging anger'. It represented, like no other publication of the time, what would later be called the 'spirit of 98'. It managed to bring together the most promising writers of the moment and for that reason earned the label given by the New York Herald in its Paris edition: 'The voice of Young Spain'. Ideologically, some place Vida Nueva's political tendency between socialism and regenerationism; others consider it a group magazine of marked ideological independence, excluding only reactionary tendencies. The archbishops of Seville and Tarragona prohibited Catholics from acquiring the magazine, and in August 1898 the bishop of Cartagena joined them. After eight consecutive denunciations and the opening of a subscription in February 1900 to try to offset losses, it concluded with its issue number 93, published on 18 March 1900.

Vida Nueva was founded in Madrid in 1898 by Rodrigo Soriano. In its first stage the director was the playwright Eusebio Blasco, and its editorial staff included Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Jurado de la Parra, Mariano de Cavia, Francisco Fernández Villegas 'Zeda', Benito Pérez Galdós, Luis París, Jacinto Octavio Picón, Eugenio Sellés, Enrique Lluria and José Nakens. Contributors ranged from established figures such as Emilio Castelar and Ramón de Campoamor to younger writers including Unamuno, Ramiro de Maeztu, Ángel Ganivet and Rubén Darío. The magazine engaged directly with the political and cultural crisis of the time. Benito Pérez Galdós reflected the atmosphere of the great disaster in his article 'Fumándose las colonias'. Unamuno wrote his well-known articles '¡Muera Don Quijote!' and 'Renovación'. On 1 January 1899 it published a posthumous article by Ángel Ganivet titled 'Mis inventos'. It devoted a special issue (number 47) to the first of May 1899, with articles by Pi y Margall, Nicolás Estévanez Murphy, Dionisio Pérez and Santiago Alba that reflected the rising sympathy intellectuals were taking toward socialism. In its second stage, from October 1899, its director was Dionisio Pérez. Engravings appeared, a more literary selection of contributors was promoted, and a new section dedicated to presenting 'New Writers' (Escritores Nuevos) was inaugurated, featuring Valle-Inclán at twenty-nine and a very young Juan Ramón Jiménez, who at seventeen introduced himself to the literary world through this magazine, with translations of Ibsen poems in an anarchist tone and his own poetic creations, in which he spoke of 'the sadness of the needy, of the exploited, of the humble with impulses of raging anger'. Vida Nueva represented, like no other publication of the time, what would later be called the 'spirit of 98'. It managed to bring together the most promising writers of the moment and for that reason earned the label given by the New York Herald in its Paris edition: 'The voice of Young Spain'. Ideologically, some place Vida Nueva's political tendency between socialism and regenerationism; others consider it a group magazine of marked ideological independence, excluding only reactionary tendencies. The archbishops of Seville and Tarragona prohibited Catholics from acquiring the magazine, and in August 1898 the bishop of Cartagena joined them. After eight consecutive denunciations and the opening of a subscription in February 1900 to try to offset losses, it concluded with its issue number 93, published on 18 March 1900.

• 1900

  In February a subscription is opened to offset losses.

• 1900

  Final issue no. 93 published on 18 March, ending the magazine's run.

• 1899

  On 1 January, a posthumous article by Ángel Ganivet titled 'Mis inventos' is published.

• 1899

  Special issue no. 47 dedicated to 1 May, with articles by Pi y Margall, Nicolás Estévanez Murphy, Dionisio Pérez and Santiago Alba.

• 1899

  Second stage begins in October with Dionisio Pérez as director; engravings appear and the 'Escritores Nuevos' section is inaugurated.

• 1898

  Vida Nueva founded in Madrid by Rodrigo Soriano; first stage begins with Eusebio Blasco as director.

• 1898

  Archbishops of Seville and Tarragona prohibit Catholics from acquiring the magazine; in August the bishop of Cartagena joins them.

A literary and political review of the Spanish 'Generation of 98', ideologically independent and progressive, excluding only reactionary tendencies.

• Vida Nueva magazine issues

  Literary and political review published in Madrid, 1898–1900.

• Special issue no. 47 (1 May 1899)

  Issue dedicated to the first of May with articles by Pi y Margall, Nicolás Estévanez Murphy, Dionisio Pérez and Santiago Alba.

• 'Escritores Nuevos' section

  Section presenting new writers, including Valle-Inclán and Juan Ramón Jiménez.

1. 1Vida Nueva - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Vida Nueva - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org
3. 3Hemeroteca Digital - Vida Nuevahemerotecadigital.bne.es