Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell

I am reviewing the 2015 edition of this work. This has the important 2 appendices that Orwell wrote and changes he made to the original before he died in 1950, and which he left instructions were to be added to the next edition. His wishes were ignored and these changes did not appear in Britain until 1986, and this is the first time they have been published in the US.

For those who dream of a more democratic world, the late 1930's are to be viewed as a dark time. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini had established Fascist regimes with themselves as dictators and in other countries, the far right had also risen in power. "Fascism had spread its great black wings over Europe." Andre Malraux.

Spain had been a monarchy for centuries but in the early part of the 20th century Spain suffered due to the Great Depression and bankruptcy. Voters clamoured for a republican party and in 1931 the king fled the country and a republic was created. In 1936 a coalition of liberal and leftist parties was elected to rectify the imbalance between the poor, often illiterate peasants, and the large land owners and wealthy industrialists. Into this unrest, right wing officers saw an opportunity for power and thus ignited the civil war; Francisco Franco being a dominant figure. Violence ensued far greater than that seen in Germany and Italy up to this date. Sympathy for the beleaguered masses brought foreign aid in the form of the International Brigade, communist recruited foreigners, and food and medical relief. The world looked on holding it's breath seeing in this event the possible beginnings of another war to engulf the world. Into this cauldron stepped George Orwell.