Cela, Camilo José 1916–

A novelist, poet, playwright, and travel writer, Cela is considered the most important voice in Spanish letters since the Civil War. His work ranges from the psychological to the surreal, often mirroring the tragedy his country has experienced with harsh realism and violence. Cela's prose style is experimental, frequently employing elements of fragmentation, repetition, and interior monologue within a shifting narrative perspective. It is a complex prose, praised for its powerful characterization and effective dialogue. The Family of Pascual Duarte is Cela's best known work. (See also CLC, Vol. 4, and Contemporary Authors, Vols. 21-24, rev. ed.)