Travel Narratives from Spain to Argentina in the Early 20th Century. José Ortega Munilla as a Case Study

Abstract

Following the events of 1898, numerous Spanish writers traveled to Argentina with a shared, distinctive outlook: they temporarily left a country in marked decline to immerse themselves in a young nation experiencing dynamic growth. Argentina was perceived through a novel lens, and its close relationship with Spain was seen as particularly advantageous for the former metropolis, which was in urgent need of external stimulus. This situation would change significantly after 1939: the type of traveler, their vision of Argentina, and the narratives they produced would shift radically, influenced by the cultural policies of the victors of the Spanish Civil War. This study primarily focuses on the early period, dedicating special attention to José Ortega Munilla, a notably representative author of the time. It also examines select travel accounts from the Spanish post-war era to underscore the contrast between these two distinct historical moments, both for the broader context and for the evolution of the Hispanic travel narrative.