The Spanish Civil War: reaction, revolution and revenge

Description

A rousing and full-blooded account of the Spanish Civil War and the rise to prominence of General Franco. No modern conflict has inflamed the passions of both civilians and intellectuals as much as the Spanish Civil War of 1936'39. Burned into our collective historical consciousness, it not only prefigured the imminent Second World War but also ushered in a new and horrific form of warfare that would come to define the twentieth century. At the same time it echoed the revolutionary aspirations of millions of Europeans and Americans after the painful years of the Great Depression. In this authoritative history, Paul Preston vividly recounts the political ideals and military horrors of the Spanish Civil War ' including the controversial bombing of Guernica ' and tracks the emergence of General Franco's brutal but extraordinarily durable fascist dictatorship.  Read more... Abstract: UPDATED EDITIONA rousing and full-blooded account of the Spanish Civil War and the rise to prominence of General Franco.  Read more... Content: Acknowledgements -- List of plates -- Map of Spain -- Preface -- Introduction : the civil war seventy years on -- 1. A divided society : Spain before 1931 -- 2. The leftist challenge, 1931-1933 -- 3. Confrontation and conspiracy, 1934-1936 -- 4. "The map of Spain bleeds" : from coup d'état to civil war -- 5. "Behind the gentleman's agreement" : the great powers betray Spain -- 6. "Madrid is the heart" : the central epic -- 7. Politics behind the lines : reaction and terror in the city of God -- 8. Politics behind the lines : revolution and terror in the city of the devil -- 9. Defeat by instalments -- 10. Franco's peace -- Epilogue -- Principal characters -- Glossary -- List of abbreviations -- Biographical essay -- Index.