New book reveals long-concealed details of a desperate conflict, wins rave reviews
Spain, Spanish State (Press Release) February 11, 2008 --
Malaga, Spain, February 12, 2007: Fascinating new information about a forgotten war is featured in a new book out today.
Entitled “Between Two Fires – Guerrilla war in the Spanish sierra”, the book is published by Maroma Press at a time when Spain is involved in intense and often bitter debate about its recent past under the 40-year Franco dictatorship, as underlined by the new Ley de Memoria Historica
Comments noted British historian Paul Preston: "As exciting as any thriller, yet deeply moving, Between Two Fires deserves to be read by everyone concerned with the history of contemporary Spain."
British journalist and author David Baird spent more than five years investigating a subject that for long was taboo: a Communist-led rebellion against the Franco regime that raged for years after the 1936-39 Civil War.
It is a story of heartbreak and heroism as he relates what happens in a village in Andalusia when it find itself caught between the ruthless Civil Guard and guerrillas led by a legendary chieftain named Roberto.
Guerrilleros, villagers, Civil Guards give a poignant account of bloodshed and betrayal, courage and heroism. Roberto’s mini-army of up to 150 men fought on in the mountains while politicians as far apart as London and Moscow pulled the strings.
Few outside Spain knew anything of the struggle. During the dark days of the Cold War, Stalin himself became involved.
The author conducted scores of interviews and scoured official archives from Barcelona to Washington.
“It was a battle against time,” he says. “Many of the old-timers who lived through those years are dying.”
Baird discovered:
*details of how agents of the OSS secretly trained and armed Communists in North Africa
*confidential reports throwing a grim light on the murder of three young villagers
*how close the Allies came to invading Spain during the Second World War
In his prologue Ian Gibson, acclaimed biographer of García Lorca (the Spanish poet-dramatist assassinated in the Civil War), comments: “David Baird, excellent writer and experienced journalist, reconstructs — and narrates as though it were a novel — the history of those tormented years. He throws an intense light on the history of that time.”
Twice awarded national prizes for his writing, David Baird’s other books include Sunny Side Up – The 21st century hits a Spanish village and East of Malaga – Essential guide to the Axarquía and Costa Tropical.
Between Two Fires – Guerrilla war in the Spanish sierras includes many historic photographs and documents, hitherto unpublished.
Between Two Fires by David Baird is on sale at English bookshops in Spain and by direct order from the publishers, Maroma Press, based in Malaga, Spain. A Spanish edition will be published shortly.
http://maromapress.wordpress.com/
email: maroma.press@gmail.com)[/]
###
Entitled “Between Two Fires – Guerrilla war in the Spanish sierra”, the book is published by Maroma Press at a time when Spain is involved in intense and often bitter debate about its recent past under the 40-year Franco dictatorship, as underlined by the new Ley de Memoria Historica
Comments noted British historian Paul Preston: "As exciting as any thriller, yet deeply moving, Between Two Fires deserves to be read by everyone concerned with the history of contemporary Spain."
British journalist and author David Baird spent more than five years investigating a subject that for long was taboo: a Communist-led rebellion against the Franco regime that raged for years after the 1936-39 Civil War.
It is a story of heartbreak and heroism as he relates what happens in a village in Andalusia when it find itself caught between the ruthless Civil Guard and guerrillas led by a legendary chieftain named Roberto.
Guerrilleros, villagers, Civil Guards give a poignant account of bloodshed and betrayal, courage and heroism. Roberto’s mini-army of up to 150 men fought on in the mountains while politicians as far apart as London and Moscow pulled the strings.
Few outside Spain knew anything of the struggle. During the dark days of the Cold War, Stalin himself became involved.
The author conducted scores of interviews and scoured official archives from Barcelona to Washington.
“It was a battle against time,” he says. “Many of the old-timers who lived through those years are dying.”
Baird discovered:
*details of how agents of the OSS secretly trained and armed Communists in North Africa
*confidential reports throwing a grim light on the murder of three young villagers
*how close the Allies came to invading Spain during the Second World War
In his prologue Ian Gibson, acclaimed biographer of García Lorca (the Spanish poet-dramatist assassinated in the Civil War), comments: “David Baird, excellent writer and experienced journalist, reconstructs — and narrates as though it were a novel — the history of those tormented years. He throws an intense light on the history of that time.”
Twice awarded national prizes for his writing, David Baird’s other books include Sunny Side Up – The 21st century hits a Spanish village and East of Malaga – Essential guide to the Axarquía and Costa Tropical.
Between Two Fires – Guerrilla war in the Spanish sierras includes many historic photographs and documents, hitherto unpublished.
Between Two Fires by David Baird is on sale at English bookshops in Spain and by direct order from the publishers, Maroma Press, based in Malaga, Spain. A Spanish edition will be published shortly.
http://maromapress.wordpress.com/
email: maroma.press@gmail.com)[/]
###
Email
Print
SPAM
USER COMMENTS
LEAVE A COMMENT
