My thesis studies the role of memory and temporality in the nineteenth-century Spanish short story (1850-1899), namely works by Leopoldo Alas (1852-1901) whose reputation as a prolific short story writer has been largely neglected by scholars, leaving many highly experimental works undiscovered. The project offers an innovative perspective of nineteenth-century Spain, drawing upon theoretical frameworks from the interdisciplinary field of memory studies to analyse how concepts of temporality, the future, memory and modernity are expressed in the short story form.

My project builds on a broader critical reassessment of the nineteenth-century Spanish short story, revising dichotomous examinations of intrinsically complex questions. It will argue that particular understandings of memory help to articulate a vision of change, or stagnation, and will contribute insights into the intersections between time and space. For example, my project will address the dearth of attention around what might be distinctive about the rural and provincial, particularly in the nineteenth-century Spanish context, to incorporate the study of landscapes into the exploration of memory, culture and politics. Additionally, the thesis will interrogate the ways in which debates have been historically framed around memory in the nineteenth century, examining levels of historical consciousness and continual reflection on recurrent conflict and transformation.