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The Battle for Spain

The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

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About this listen

 The civil war that tore Spain apart between 1936 and 1939 and attracted liberals and socialists from across the world to support the cause against Franco was one of the most hard-fought and bitterest conflicts of the 20th century: a war of atrocities and political genocide and a military testing ground before WWII for the Russians, Italians and Germans, whose Condor Legion so notoriously destroyed Guernica.

Antony Beevor's account narrates the origins of the Civil War and its violent and dramatic course from the coup d'etat in July 1936 through the savage fighting of the next three years which ended in catastrophic defeat for the Republicans in 1939. And he succeeds especially well in unravelling the complex political and regional forces that played such an important part in the origins and history of the war.

Read by Sean Barrett

(p) 2011 Isis Publishing Ltd©2006 Antony Beevor 20th Century Europe Military Modern Spain War Interwar Period Imperialism Russia Soviet Union Middle Ages Latin American Civil War Socialism Winston Churchill Liberalism Africa Royalty Capitalism

Critic reviews

Fascination lies in the human drama, superbly captured by Beevor ... a vivid chronicle of a dreadful time and place (Max Hastings)
In many ways it's his most impressive book to date because he coolly makes sense of such a complicated story: the narrative sweep is consummate, the seamless use of so many sources masterful, and the eye for details makes it a superb read (Simon Sebag Montefiore)
An admirably clear-sighted account ... a great achievement (Miranda France)
A moving masterpiece of the indictment of war (Felipe Fernández-Armesto)
A gripping, revelatory account
This is an enthralling book. The narrative is masterly, wonderfully clear as a guide through the labyrinth. It is even-tempered and full of good sense ... It is admirable
It is an admirably clear-sighted account. What Beevor does so well is to place the war in the context of Spanish history and world politics ... Beevor's understanding of warfare and tactics is second to none ... This is a great achievement
A very different book, which displays all Beevor's exceptional narrative skills and literary flair. The story he tells is grimly familiar, but he presents it with a freshness, an eye for detail and a degree of detachment that makes this one of the best accounts to date of the Spanish crisis
Antony Beevor's revised history of the Civil War, which vividly anatomises a state and a society in the process of disintegration, is a tract for our times ... Above all, he has Beevorised the book, given it the richness of detail and the narrative drive that made Stalingrad such a success
For the big picture of the war, all the more powerful for its blending of narrative intensity with emotional restraint, there is no rival to Antony Beevor's masterly The Battle for Spain
The Battle for Spain looks likely to become the standard account of the conflict for at least the next generation
All stars
Most relevant
Really exciting retelling of the history. Loved it. For me it was more like a Tom Clancy or Frederick Forsyth novel.

Loved it!

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another great Beevor history, a comprehensive work about a subject I didn't know very much about beforehand. well read by Sean Barret how I now think off in my head as Anthony Beevor

another great history

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I did wonder if I'd make it through such a comprehensive account (I've abandoned some other Antony Beevor titles), but the narration really keeps you engaged.

Superb narration

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A must read for all interested in the Spanish fight against facism. Well read and paced.

Excellent account of the Spanish War

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A solid book by the great historian Antony Beevor. I would say that this book is not his best work, but it is still a decent history and I have learnt a lot about a topic I knew nothing about. Due to my unfamiliarity with the subject it has been impossible for me to come away with a full understanding of the war and a further read or another book on the topic is required. However, all the main points are addressed, starting with foundations of Spain’s decline from the ‘bread basket of the Roman Empire’ to a poor state in the early 19th century.

A lot of attention has been given to why the Republicans lost, their inferior troops and equipment, internal fighting between factions and lack of support from foreign powers. The reasons why are all discussed. Franco also plays his part as a talented general who fronted the Army of Africa, Spain’s best fighting force at the time. The realpolitik of Europe at the time is decisive on the outcome, as WWII loomed ever closer and the focus shifted to events in Central Europe. Eventually for the allies, a weakened neutral state, republican or nationalist was what was the best outcome. The major engagements are also a focus along with the atrocities committed. Especially those after the Nationalist victory, such as the purges and settling up of the concentration camps for dissidents. As Beevor explains though, most civil wars cause this outcome and if the republicans won, the same is certain.

Guernica, Badajoz, the siege of Madrid and Barcelona are all there. Along with the curious support of other nations (such as the sale of weapons from Nazi Germany to both sides), the Condor Legion’s testing of bombing and blitzkrieg and the celebrities who became embroiled in the fighting and reporting.

I felt like the accession of King Juan Carlos I and Spain’s march to democracy was only touched on in the conclusion, which I always thought was an important long term end to the war.

For me the book falls somewhere in the middle of Beevor’s other works and is not a bad book. I feel it’s just not a memorable book.

Good but not Great

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