I'd like to read a good one-volume history of the Spanish Civil War. Can anyone recommend one
Thanks.
Thanks.
Seeking book recommendation (history)
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The Spanish Civil War is not the strongest area for me history-wise, but you might want to check out the "Notes" and the "External Links" to the Wikipedia article on it. Amazingly well-done article it looks like.
I suspect that this is an historical area where writers oftern have their own biases.
I thought I had read in one book review or another (Wash Post? NYT?) about a new book having come out recently on the Spanish Civil War, but I could not find a reference to it anywhere just now.
I suspect that this is an historical area where writers oftern have their own biases.
I thought I had read in one book review or another (Wash Post? NYT?) about a new book having come out recently on the Spanish Civil War, but I could not find a reference to it anywhere just now.
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All I know now is that Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
Pretty bad that I know about what Wikipedia and SNL tell me. Much be something that has triggered you interest now, though!
About 10 years ago, I asked a friend who is knowledgable about the Spanish Civil War the same question. He said he's read dozens of books on the subject, and all of them were biased one way or the other. I vaguely recall reading a positive review of a more recent book, but that's not much help.
B
bigmack1
Osprey books do great books about that sort of thing.
I've read a good one recently about Franco (Geoffrey Jensen, 160 pages, Potomac Books, 2005)...it's a minimal and succint military profile but explains in 4 or 5 pages the Civil War issue. To get an overview is perfect and will give you some tips to other books.
Antony Beevor has one about the Spanish Civil War, and his style makes difficult subjects, like this, very readable.
http://www.antonybeevor.com/spain/index.htm
Regards
Carlos
http://www.antonybeevor.com/spain/index.htm
Regards
Carlos
Even though this is 2006 and in paperback this may be the one I was thinking of. Originally released in 1982 but updated with all sorts of material that has become availalbe only in the meantime.
Beevor is a great writer. I thought his Stalingrad was just an amazing book about one of the most amazing battles in history. The turnning point of WWII. I am glad the US has never had to fight Russia.
Berlin seemed good, too, I did not make it through that one. Too horrifying!
For whom the bell tolls, gives a perspective into the war, wouldn't exactly qualify for what your looking for though.
True that. Hemingway, I suppose, is part of the reason why I am thinking that it is difficult to get an unbiased persepctive on the Spanish Civil War. It was very romanticized. Of course, I suppose, the cultural impact of that romanticization is part of the relevant history. "Some things that never happened are nevertheless true."
Ironic I suppose that Spain was neutral during WWII, if my recollection is correct.
Indeed, some facts are still taboo and the wounds remains unhealed. Garcia Lorca was shot dead just because he was homosexual. Baltasar Garzon, a Supreme Court Judge was trying to clarifie what happened, in this case and other ones too, but face some problems. Even here, as a neighbour country, that period is unclear, because we have here too a dictator (Salazar) who was a Franco's sympathisant
I don't know how it ended about Garzon but it seems the issue is not consensual. Maybe some spanish fellow here could give a more informed opinion.
I don't know how it ended about Garzon but it seems the issue is not consensual. Maybe some spanish fellow here could give a more informed opinion.
Yes, Spain remained "neutral" during WWII, in part because Franco was clever enough not to get into it, although tempted by Hitler, but the British made it quite clear that if Spain supported the Reich there would be an embargo, and that was something Spain could not afford, just after the disaster of the Civil War (this was probably the main reason, Spain was an absolute disaster after their own war, ,nothing left to get into another war...)
Garzon have always been "problematic", for all sides and political parties, in the mid nneties he left his job as a Judge to get into politics, and came back later after not doing very well, so he has enemies everywhere....and is personality does not help either, always trying to solve all the problems in the world, instead of taking care of more local matters, which are far more urgent....
You might try searching Amazon for a book that readers have rated highly.
I do not know too much as I said, but I doubt that Garcia Lorca was shot--everyone assumes he was shot by the Nationalists--just because he was gay. I realize the depth of his involvement in politics is controversial, but as I understand it, he was an influential and potentially out spoken guy. He did not make a secret of the fact that he was gay, as I understand it, at a time when it was dangerous to be candid about that, and I doubt that he would have remained silent as to other things he cared about.
Shows the brutality of the time, however, which one of the great poets of the 20th Century and a guy that should have been thought of as one of Spain's national treaures is summarily hauled off and shot in secret at the beginning a civil war. Hardly seems designed to build support for the Nationalists. All it could possibly do is spread terror and send a warning to those that would mess with the Nationalists. Not exactly a good reflection on Spanish culture/character either.
An utter tragedy. A gentle, sensitive, and immeasurably talented artistic soul lost to thuggery at its worst.
Shows the brutality of the time, however, which one of the great poets of the 20th Century and a guy that should have been thought of as one of Spain's national treaures is summarily hauled off and shot in secret at the beginning a civil war. Hardly seems designed to build support for the Nationalists. All it could possibly do is spread terror and send a warning to those that would mess with the Nationalists. Not exactly a good reflection on Spanish culture/character either.
An utter tragedy. A gentle, sensitive, and immeasurably talented artistic soul lost to thuggery at its worst.
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I knew we'd jump start this thread eventually! 
Believe me, those things happened, being shot just because someone was gay...the brother of my grandmother was sentenced to death just because he was the mayor of a city at the time of the war (so......t party, he won the elections, and he was a teacher, never harmed anyone), he was in jail for 7 years, and any day could be the day he was killed, until he was finally released...
Coming back to book's recomendation, I remembered this also, I have it on the English version:
"The Spanish Civil War: Revised Edition"
by Hugh Thomas
History is history and can't be changed. Lorca was a wonderful poet indeed, everyones agree and his death was a terrible loss. Such talent waisted in vain.
That said a poet to be revisited urgently and as a first book
Poet in New York
He lived in the USA but didn't liked, he explains why...A Masterpiece!!
That said a poet to be revisited urgently and as a first book
Poet in New York
He lived in the USA but didn't liked, he explains why...A Masterpiece!!
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