Spain on Fire. 1931–1939. Revolution and Franco's Revenge

A fundamental work on the pivotal events of the 20th century, revealing the socio-political roots of the conflict.
Based on extensive research with a large array of sources, the book not only presents a chronicle of events but provides a powerful analysis of the reasons that push society into the abyss of violence.

«Spain on Fire» by British historian Sir Paul Preston is a profound study of one of the key conflicts of the 20th century: not so much a chronicle of events, but a complete academic «biography of the war». The author's goal is to explain why Spain in the 1930s became an arena for class, ideological, and international confrontation. Preston shows how political forces—from anarchists to monarchists—fought for their vision of justice, and how and why the intervention of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and other countries turned the internal war into a prelude and dress rehearsal for World War II—ultimately shaping its forms. How the extermination of entire social groups became the purpose and meaning of this war—and how the foresighted Franco, shaping his model of post-war Spain, intentionally destroyed the historical memory of the losers. The author presents different «truths» and explains why the formally concluded war continues to this day—and is relevant not only to the Spaniards themselves.