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BOOKS I READ: Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939 (2016) by Adam Hochschild. The stories of Americans who volunteered to stand against fascism and Francisco Franco. This war was a prelude to the Second World War, and is an engulfing tragedy of how a dictator begins his reign. Key to Franco’s Nationalist’s eventual victory over the republican democracy was the patronage received from Mussolini and Hitler. They provided thousands of soldiers, arms and ammunition, and hundreds of war planes. Also critical was the support of the Catholic Church and Texaco. Yes, the American oil company. Generalissimo Franco would go on to rule Spain for 36 years.
The reader encounters the idealism of men and women, including Eric Blair (né George Orwell), bravely fighting for a cause that FDR would regret not supporting. The book’s final pages, tear-jerkers for sure, include the epilogue of the Bob and Marion Merriman love story, primary characters in the book, and Rebecca Schachter’s visit to Spain to say kaddish for her uncle, Phil, whom she never knew. We only know of him through those trying to get word of his whereabouts. After reading the book, I found her take on visiting the battlefield.
It was Isabel Allende calling it “extraordinary” in her acknowledgements for “A Long Petal of the Sea” that led me to pick up this book. I can only concur.
NB: using Medium’s shortform posts to chain my recent reads. Go to previous book:
