El teatre a València al segle XIX. Una polèmica teatral en la premsa valenciana entre Rafael Maria Liern i Josep Bernat i Baldoví

Abstract

Liern was the main exponent of Valencian drama written in Catalan in Valencia for a substantial part of the fifties and sixties of the 19th century, right after the predominance of Bernat i Baldoví. However, there are very few studies of Liern, an author widely acclaimed by the bourgeoisie. In this article we inventory Liern's theatrical output, and through the contemporary conservative press assess the popularity of Bernat i Baldoví, Liern and Valencian drama as a whole among the cultured, conservative sectors of Valencia. Likewise, we explore Bernat's literary influence on Liern. Finally, the differences between two different theatrical models and opposing ideological and journalistic groups lead us to look at a theatrical controversy involving these two authors.