Click on the above link to see the video. Understatement of the day: The song may be lacking in some details of the Spanish Civil War.
Franco Friday
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Whenever I have the opportunity, I recommend a great work of fiction that nevertheless presents the most accurate picture of Spain in the lead-up to the Civil War. The Cypresses Believe in God (2 vols.) If you stick with it, through all the individuals and groups representing the various factions and political parties, you will certainly feel the thrill of hope that the main characters experience when they (huddled together in anxious fear of being discovered) hear on the radio that General Franco has flown from the Canaries and is now on the coast of Spanish Morocco (preparing the invasion).
Also, there is an unforgettable scene at the very end that will leave no true Catholic unmoved.
A little light on the details, indeed.
And I second the recommendation of “Cypresses”–a beautiful work.
The trilogy: The Cypresses Believe in God, One Million Dead and Peace After War, are my favorite novels and a magnificent introduction to Spain.
I soon expect to be reading a book about the Spanish Civil War. We’ll see what my impressions will be. To date though, I understand they had a choice between fascism and communism. Given that we fought World War II against fascism, then the Cold War against communism, I’d say they didn’t have much good to select.
I’d say they didn’t have much good to select.
Very true, at least by American standards.
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