Crime novels, westerns, adventures: serial heroes in Spanish popular literature in the first half of the 20th century

In the first half of the 20th century, the number of series advertising new crime novels, westerns, or adventures on a weekly or monthly basis multiplied, with these mainly being sold at newsstands. These series often centered on a hero or heroine who had to prove themselves anew in each story and whose actions captivated readers for years.

Some of these novels were sold in huge numbers and passed from hand to hand. Some of the Spanish series heroes also became bestsellers abroad, demonstrating the international network for the sale and promotion of popular reading material.

However, popular novels rarely found their way into academic libraries and other publicly accessible collections. Thanks to the acquisition of the Colección Fernando Eguidazu de la Novela Popular Española, the IAI library now owns an extensive collection of these publications.  

Using selected examples from Spanish crime, western, and adventure literature, the project examines writing, advertising, and sales strategies, foreign models, and the adaptation and further development of serial heroes and heroines in other media formats such as comics. Particular attention is paid to the international dissemination of Spanish series and their heroes. 
The project is thus a continuation of the third-party funded project "Reading and Wondering in the 19th Century: la colección de la novela popular española" (external link, opens in a new window) (BKM, 2019-2022).
 

2022  Development and implementation of an exhibition on the Spanish popular novel. 

2023 Development and publication of a book on masked heroes in Spanish popular literature

2024/25 Exemplary studies on the presence of Spanish serial heroes and heroines and their authors on the book market in Latin America.

2026/27 Exemplary studies on the presence of Spanish serial heroes and heroines on the book market in German-speaking countries.