A People's History of Catalonia

by Michael Eaude

The fight of an oppressed nation for its sovereignty has often dovetailed with that of a militant working class for social justice. At every home game of FC Barcelona, at 17 minutes and 14 seconds of play, the 100,000-capacity Camp Nou stadium is filled by the roar of  “IN-DE-PEN-DÈN-CI-A!”  Time stops for a second. History lives in the present... Catalonia's national consciousness has deep roots. There are countries twice the size with histories half as interesting.  A People's History of Catalonia  tells that history, from below, in all its richness and complexity. The region's struggle for independence has, for centuries, been violently resisted, the Catalan language suppressed and its leaders jailed. From the peasant revolts of the 15th century and the siege of Barcelona in 1714, to defeat in the Spanish Civil War, and the slow re-emergence of the workers' movement and anti-Francoist resistance in the years that followed, Michael Eaude tells a compelling story whose ending has yet to be written.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Spain, Politics, Contemporary

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 20, 2022

Reviews

[Brayden Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was fantastic. It is a Brief People's history, however brief in this case was a perfect overview for me. Indicating where I ought to read more. The author included great quotes throughout and overall painted a picture of the current and past circumstances of the Spanish state that I haven't been able to find up until this point.

[Oskar Bjørkli · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to be anarchist:
1. Launch and detonate sea mines in densely populated civilian areas
2. Occupy a total area of 2,5 streetcorners
3. Fight trade unionists (they are literally stalinists)
4. Never organize (authoritarian), get run over and be defeated by fascists
5. "Bro, if only we had more sea mines"
6. repeat

[Naila · Rating 5 out of 5]

It offers a significant contribution to Catalan history and politics, dismantling both Spanish nationalist claims and Catalan romantic myths, even if it's the author's vision, he talks using logical thinking.

He highlights the central role of class struggle in shaping Catalan identity, explaining how the Spanish monarchy and Catalan elites often allied against the working class, and illustrates the resilience and enduring fight for self-determination that defines Catalan history.

At the end of every chapter he talks about iconic historical characters, and he includes so many women, so it gives so much visibility to all of them because they truly deserve to be known!

( Explains all history from the year 897 until 2021 )

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ik weet nu nog steeds niet zo goed wat ik van Catalaanse onafhankelijkheid moet vinden, gok dat ik op meer politieke, filosofische en juridische discussie over onafhankelijkheid gehoopt dan op de iets te uitgerekte geschiedenisles die ik uiteindelijk kreeg.

Denk dat je als linkse auteur best wat te verantwoorden hebt als je voor een vorm van nationalisme of regionalisme pleit en weet niet of dat helemaal van de grond is gekomen in dit boek.

[Jackson Purdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly good Marxist history of Catalonia. Quite clearly from a specifically Third Camp Trotskyist perspective but it is quite clear when a tendency based assessment is being made.