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spencyrrh's review against another edition
4.0
In this sprawling narrative history, I can criticise only the necessary multiplicity of names and military events.
sleepyboi2988's review against another edition
5.0
Antony does it yet again, an excellent book exploring an often confusing subject. He shows us the layers of conflict between the varying factions involved and the exploitations by outside powers. Highly recommended.
wshier's review against another edition
2.0
Take the advice of other reviewers and read Orwell's "Homage to Catalonia" instead. This was extremely difficult. I would like to forgive the author because of the notoriously complex politics of the war. But, that is not a legitimate excuse. Orwell managed to sum it up nicely. This was way, way, way too into the details (or the weeds). I wondered, "For whom is this book written?" I had a decent understanding of the war when I began and felt overwhelmed. It almost assumes that you have a graduate student (or even professorial) level of understanding to start. But, if you already have that level of knowledge, you really don't need to read this book.
vanamonde's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
If all you know about the Spanish Civil War is the Condor Legion and Franco winning then buy this book and educate yourself.
emma_ireland's review against another edition
3.0
I HATED this book. It took me decades to read, and if it didn't, then it certainly felt like it did. Sample excerpt: "The offensive was launched at 4.08am with 50 Junkers somethings, 48 Fiat Swordfish Specials, 82 so-many-millimetre anti aircraft thingies, 109 knackered rifles, 3000 hastily fashioned bayonets, and a partridge in a pear tree (soon to be dead, blown to smithereens). Oh, and Guernica got a bit roughed up in the process." I might be paraphrasing, and if you're a battle and weaponry enthusiast, then this is hardcore porn, so fill your boots. But I resent any book that takes a month of my life and rewards me with a coma. Three stars because it's clearly well (TO WITHIN AN INCH OF ITS AND MY LIFE) researched, and because it not being the right book for me doesn't necessarily mean it's crap.
j_m_alexander's review against another edition
2.75
What a depressingly confusing and unmitigated mess human history can be.
Overshadowed be the events that followed, you might have heard of WWII, the Spanish Civil War was at least in my education a mere blurb in the text book. After having read Beevor's fairly comprehensive account of the war I have to wonder whether part of that oversight was due to the lack of anyone's ability to succinctly explain the events. I certainly learned a lot from this book, but I'm also certain that I still could not explain the varied differences between the POUM, the CNT, the Anarcho-Syndaclists, nor really any of the many smaller factions within Spain circa the 1930's.
What I can tell you is that the Spanish people seem to have been caught in a tussle that would be overrun by external forces and sacrificed at a whim. The events that transpired could have only happened at that time. The fascist governments of Germany and Italy were supporting the uprising of the Nationalists and the eventual government of Franco, but were taking advantage of this conflict to test tactics for future plans and strengthen their own positions on the continent. The Stalin government was supporting the opposing Republic for much the same reasons with less success. There was such tremendous in-fighting and political games being played that Spanish lives ceased to have much apparent value.
I think for someone so ill-informed on this topic perhaps a smaller scope would have been more beneficial; I feed educated on the war, but a little brain dead after reading the specifics of battles that I do not quite have the knowledge to appreciate. The portions focused on the inter-workings were fascinating.
Overshadowed be the events that followed, you might have heard of WWII, the Spanish Civil War was at least in my education a mere blurb in the text book. After having read Beevor's fairly comprehensive account of the war I have to wonder whether part of that oversight was due to the lack of anyone's ability to succinctly explain the events. I certainly learned a lot from this book, but I'm also certain that I still could not explain the varied differences between the POUM, the CNT, the Anarcho-Syndaclists, nor really any of the many smaller factions within Spain circa the 1930's.
What I can tell you is that the Spanish people seem to have been caught in a tussle that would be overrun by external forces and sacrificed at a whim. The events that transpired could have only happened at that time. The fascist governments of Germany and Italy were supporting the uprising of the Nationalists and the eventual government of Franco, but were taking advantage of this conflict to test tactics for future plans and strengthen their own positions on the continent. The Stalin government was supporting the opposing Republic for much the same reasons with less success. There was such tremendous in-fighting and political games being played that Spanish lives ceased to have much apparent value.
I think for someone so ill-informed on this topic perhaps a smaller scope would have been more beneficial; I feed educated on the war, but a little brain dead after reading the specifics of battles that I do not quite have the knowledge to appreciate. The portions focused on the inter-workings were fascinating.