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1984 And The Spanish Civil War: Forgotten Stories From Spain Kindle Edition

3.8 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

In 1937, George Orwell spent six months witnessing the rise and fall of a popular revolution on the streets of Barcelona and Catalonia. Alone amongst his contemporaries, Orwell understood what the success or failure of that Spanish Revolution would mean for the rest of the world.

1984 And The Spanish Civil War explores the background to the Civil War and the hidden anarchist revolution within a revolution. As Orwell arrives in Catalunya, he observes something bright and new in the world. But when Orwell returns from fighting on the front, he is confronted by the Communists conducting a misinformation campaign against this revolutionary spirit and he is forced to flee from their purges. He returns home to England, where he begins to write his account, but finds few are prepared to listen. In order to tell his story, he writes literally (Homage to Catalunya), then when that fails, he adopts the structure of allegory (Animal Farm) and finally that of a dystopian fictional Britain in 1984.

Yet publication is a constant struggle for Orwell in a world that refuses to criticise the role of the USSR. Though he dies in despair, his words are not lost, for their message is picked up once more on the streets of the same country he fought for back in the 1930's.

Praise for 1984 and The Spanish Civil War:
"Paul has achieved in a concise volume what others have failed in far more voluminous accounts."
"An interesting read if you are new to Orwell or the Civil War in Spain...Highly recommended".

The Forgotten Stories from Spain Series brings you accounts of human bravery and spirit at a moment of unleashed cruelty during the Spanish Civil War. Stories of co-operation that have a universal message, as relevant to the world today, as it was in Spain during the 1930's.
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There are 2 books in this series.
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00MW6F30M
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Craving Distraction
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 22, 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 71 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Forgotten Stories From Spain
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

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Paul Read
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Paul has been practising the martial arts since he was knee high to a grasshopper.

Given he's still not much taller, he continues his studies, focusing on the extraordinary practice and philosophy of Tai Chi. Having worked through numerous styles and schools he eventually created the teapot temple from which he produces mould-breaking online 21st Century Tai Chi courses, writes books for those searching for an amusing alternative to the norm, and podcasts and videos to antagonise his enemies.

All of this has failed to alleviate his restlessness and so he fidgets his way back and forth between the Uk and Spain in search of good coffee, good conversation and fresh vegetables.

You can track him down easily as the teapotmonk anywhere - unless he hasn't paid a bill somewhere in which case it may prove more difficult.

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
13 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2016
    Much revealing. Yet I must disagree with the author about the role of the anarchists. It was absolutely necessary to form a united peoples front but the aforementioned logically put off the middle class which might have been an ally of the Republicans......
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2015
    1984 and the Spanish Civil War is the second book in Paul Read's Forgotten Stories from Spain series. George Orwell, now synonymous with `privacy, procedure and responsibility' has much to thank from his time in Spain in regards to his greatest works. His theory on the `thought police' , of big brother and their CCTV cameras are part of common culture, and he was the man who gave a face to big corporates and hierarchies that control the populace. While the reclusive Orwell (real name Eric Blair) died aged just 46, his work lives on.
    His work, Homage to Catalonia, is the best piece of work that embodies the Spanish Civil War from a personal point of view, by a man who didn't fall for ideals of either side of the fight, and dared to stand up and question Spain's situation. With suspicion from the right and criticism from the left, he was able to produce three of his great works - Homage to Catalonia, Animal Farm and 1984.
    Between 30-35,000 people joined the civil war as volunteers, the International Brigades, organised mostly by the Communist Party, but Orwell slipped into Spain through a Marxist militia and fought for the POUM, which would eventually be his downfall in Spain. He was able to assess the different sides of the left in the war - Socialists, Anarchists, Communists, Republicans, Basques, Catalonians and the big unions in Barcelona, the UGT and CNT. 1984 and the Spanish Civil War is a great way to understand why Orwell came to the conclusions he did, what he faced in his desire to fight and come to grips with Spain unlike anyone before him. The book also details what Orwell and his wife went through in escaping Spain.
    1984 and Spanish Civil War discusses how criticism of Homage to Catalonia led Orwell to use satire in writing both Animal Farm and 1984 to relate his ideals and knowledge. In learning how power can destroy ideals and morals, and seeing the left coalition the civil war collapse under `folding lies', fighting for something to save face rather than believing in the facts, Orwell was able to produce these stunning works.
    The book also goes on to talk about how, in many ways, Spain has not changed. In these times of austerity, many of the original ideas that spurred the civil war have come alive again: the left wing and anarchism in its root form - with the indignados, occupation movements, desahucios (evictions and related occupations) and also escrache, calling people to account in public settings (humiliation protests if you will). Orwell may be proud that some of his ideas are alive and in practice today, who knows.
    Paul Read has written an excellent book on the subject of Orwell and the effect of the war on the Englishman. 1984 and the Spanish Civil War is insightful, well-researched and written in a smooth, satisfying pace, giving out so many details, and informing the reader on many certitudes that they may not have known. A highly recommended book.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2014
    As Paul Read says in his introduction to 1984 and the Spanish Civil War, “To understand the history of Spain during the civil war, …, there are few better sources than that of Orwell.”

    There is much discussion of the philosophy of George Orwell, which was influenced by his participation in the Spanish Civil War prior to WWII, as well as the changes he saw as a result of Stalin’s intrusion into Spain. There’s relevant biographical information about Orwell during the Spanish Civil War, and some of the censorship that prohibited his works from being more widely distributed during his lifetime.

    Some of the political situations of the 1930’s that Orwell witnessed were clearly the basis for Animal Farm and 1984. To learn from where he got his ideas was enlightening.

    This book is about many aspects of the Spanish Civil War. It’s also about Fascism in Spain in the 1930’s. And it’s about the differences between Anarchism and Communism in the 1930’s. It eventually leads into a discussion of the Occupation Movement of 2011.

    1984 and the Spanish Civil War is a little book, a relatively quick read, which is long on ideas. Highly recommended!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2018
    More than just the Spanish Civil war through the eyes of George Orwell. What he experiences in the 1930’s follows him through his writing and into our time. Excellent summary.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Herodotus
    5.0 out of 5 stars Like "Homage to C"
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2015
    Perhaps this overstates the quality of the book for a general readership, but I found here answers (not impartial !) to many questions I had asked myself...and others I had omitted to ask ! I need to go back to it and re-think many points. Like "Homage to C". it brings up worrying parallels to the world now.

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