Literary Salons and the Periodical Press in Nineteenth-Century Spain. Exploring the Crónicas de Salón

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article probes the emergence of the salon chronicle, a vibrant journalistic genre, which flourished in Spain during the second half of the 19th century. In the light of new information on the connections that were developed between salon life and the periodical press, this study undertakes an exploration of women’s participation in both the private sphere of the salons and in the public sphere of the press. Theoretical considerations concerning women’s position in contemporary debate will be articulated alongside three case studies: Emilia Pardo Bazán, Emilia Serrano de Wilson, and Joaquina García Balmaseda. A comparative study of their salon chronicles will help bring to light the editorial strategies that they followed and the collaborations that they established throughout their careers. These historiographically underexplored strategies will enhance our understanding of women’s contribution to the field of cultural production and will offer an insight into the increasingly globalized future of the press.