Orwell's account in "Homage to Catalonia" is moving and chilling. You get a sense of his deep sympathy for the fragile, classless society emerging in the early

Orwell's account in "Homage to Catalonia" is moving and chilling. You get a sense of his deep sympathy for the fragile, classless society emerging in the early days of the civil war, but as the narrative progresses, you see how doomed it all is: an abortive bid for freedom pinched between Franco and Stalin. If nothing else, read it for the way Orwell spins being shot in the neck into dry comedy gold. I had the privilege of devouring it over a week in Barcelona. If you are ever there when the world opens up again, there is an absolutely vivid walking tour of the city that covers all the main points, which I can't recommend highly enough. http://iberianature.com/barcelona/history-of-barcelona/spanish-civil-war-tour-in-barcelona/ http://iberianature.com/barcelona/history-of-barcelona/spani...