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A review by jwood619
The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 by Antony Beevor
5.0
The reader should know going in that this book is not for the faint of heart. It's a bit of a long, grueling read and the subject matter is sure to make you more depressed about the world, not less. It's also a deeply researched history book that reads much more like a textbook than a novel. That said, this is a really well-done work and is a worthy addition to the historical record on the topic.
Having read through many of the other reviews, many of the low ratings it received on this site are from people who went into it expecting a fun and easy read. That, or they were simply offended that the author detailed the atrocities of their preferred side along with the other side. History has a way of shattering scripted right-wing or left-wing narratives and the author meticulously chronicles the atrocities of all involved.
I found the book particularly important given the increase in right-wing authoritarian nationalism that has taken place globally in recent years. Many parallels are easily observable between the nationalists of 1930s Spain and the global movements today. Many other parallels can be seen on both sides of the conflict, particularly in the use of propaganda to advance far-left or far-right accounts of events.
Unless you're a history nerd or just really wanting to do a deep dive on the subject, I would probably start with a different book that will read easier and give a quicker synopsis. Overall it is an important entry into the public record of a very dark time in recent history and there's much we can learn and observe about human nature and the cyclical ideological battles that can destroy and divide.
Having read through many of the other reviews, many of the low ratings it received on this site are from people who went into it expecting a fun and easy read. That, or they were simply offended that the author detailed the atrocities of their preferred side along with the other side. History has a way of shattering scripted right-wing or left-wing narratives and the author meticulously chronicles the atrocities of all involved.
I found the book particularly important given the increase in right-wing authoritarian nationalism that has taken place globally in recent years. Many parallels are easily observable between the nationalists of 1930s Spain and the global movements today. Many other parallels can be seen on both sides of the conflict, particularly in the use of propaganda to advance far-left or far-right accounts of events.
Unless you're a history nerd or just really wanting to do a deep dive on the subject, I would probably start with a different book that will read easier and give a quicker synopsis. Overall it is an important entry into the public record of a very dark time in recent history and there's much we can learn and observe about human nature and the cyclical ideological battles that can destroy and divide.