246 pages
English language
Published Jan. 14, 1966 by Penguin Books.
[Homage to Catalonia][1] is [George Orwell][2]'s account of his experiences fighting in the 'Spanish Civil War'. Alongside many British workers, trades unionists, and socialists keen to help the Spanish defend their Republic from General Franco's Fascist forces. Orwell joined the [POUM][3] Militia in the Catalan region of Spain, was injured in the fighting and invalided back to England. After leaving the front line preparatory to leaving Spain, Orwell saw for himself the machinations of the Communist Party leading to the POUM being declared 'Enemies of the People' along with its destruction. Which he expresses in his companion piece the Essay [Looking back on the Spanish War][4]. These are fuller descriptions of events culled from direct experience, than many especially current misrepresentations of the Spanish Conflict. English film director [Ken Loach][5] made a landmark film [Land and Freedom][6] of the Spanish anti fascist struggle with many similarities to George Orwell's story …
[Homage to Catalonia][1] is [George Orwell][2]'s account of his experiences fighting in the 'Spanish Civil War'. Alongside many British workers, trades unionists, and socialists keen to help the Spanish defend their Republic from General Franco's Fascist forces. Orwell joined the [POUM][3] Militia in the Catalan region of Spain, was injured in the fighting and invalided back to England. After leaving the front line preparatory to leaving Spain, Orwell saw for himself the machinations of the Communist Party leading to the POUM being declared 'Enemies of the People' along with its destruction. Which he expresses in his companion piece the Essay [Looking back on the Spanish War][4]. These are fuller descriptions of events culled from direct experience, than many especially current misrepresentations of the Spanish Conflict. English film director [Ken Loach][5] made a landmark film [Land and Freedom][6] of the Spanish anti fascist struggle with many similarities to George Orwell's story including that of perspective. The book and film can be appreciated in their own right or as companion pieces.
[1]: www.george-orwell.org/Homage_to_Catalonia/index.html [2]: www.george-orwell.org/l_biography.html [3]: www.marxists.org/history/spain/poum/1936/general-policy.htm [4]: www.george-orwell.org/Looking_Back_On_The_Spanish_War/0.html [5]: www.sixteenfilms.co.uk [6]: www.sixteenfilms.co.uk/films/film/27/landand_freedom/
Orwell went to Spain as a journalist but soon signed up as a partisan to fight in the Spanish civil war in the late 1930s. Excellent account of his own experiences and of the chaos that reigned during that period. The political landscape was extremely complex with multitudinous factions and ever shifting alliances.
stunning writing that gives a feeling for both trench warfare and street conflict
the book captures the joys of liberation - and how easily they can be lost
it's fascinating to see how some of Orwell's experiences and observations here come up again in 1984 - a fear of rats, poor-quality tobacco falling out of cigarettes, newspapers rewriting history, worries of being informed on, and the horrors of being confined as a political prisoner
Orwell's personal bravery and dedication to goodness are also evident from this book
