A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War

by Gabriel Jackson

Photographs, posters, and drawings highlight an examination of the key events and immediate effects of the Spanish Civil War

Genres: History, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

Published December 30, 1999

Reviews

[Walter Schutjens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A high quality account of the conflict replete with to the point descriptions and striking images. The context of the war is especially well set in scene taking up a fittingly large part of a what is a relatively short work. The unceasing, though amateurishly executed (given an immense military superiority), advance of the fascists is well portrayed with attention given especially to the siege of Madrid and the final weeks in Barcelona.

Every person should read this work to know in some measure of detail both what humanity can be at its best and the speed at which it can again be driven aground.

[James Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and highly condensed overview of the extraordinarily, shockingly nasty struggle between Nationalist and Republican Spain, the deep ideological fractures within (mostly) the Republican coalitions, and the towering importance of international interventions (Italy and Germany on behalf of the Nationalists & the Soviet Union on behalf of the Republic) and non-interventions (Britain, France, the US) on the outcome of the war.

This book came out in 1974, when Franco still was alive. I would love to see an updated project cover this same ground with the same sort of meaningful condensation.

Jackson's short bibliography at the end of the book is very useful in tracking down scholarly and literary sources up to the publication date. Much will have been produced in the succeeding 40 years, of course.

7/27/2014

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a first year undergraduate (freshman), I asked my lecturers for a helpful first guide to the Spanish Civil War. Professor Jackson’s Concise History remained on various shelves for 45 years as more others jumped my reading queue! Many better-known books, including one of Jackson’s own, will give a more detailed explanation both of the war itself and of what led to this fratricidal conflict, some 120 years plus in the making. Gerald Brennan’s Spanish Labyrinth still stands out as an outstanding study of the tapestry of conflict that led to the war. However, for anyone wishing to gain an understanding of the war itself - the military and political events - and the international dimension of the 1936-39 period, this book is an excellent condensed explanation.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book because I am traveling to Spain and Portugal later this year. There are quite a few black and white photos in this book. It is a rather quick read although filled with a lot of information, which at times can be overwhelming.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting overview. Not amazing, but good. I learned a bit, plus there are some good images here. Well worth it!