Portugal Books

I have been interested, as a pro-Republican partisan, in the Spanish Civil War since I was a teenager. What initially perked my interest, and remains of interest, is the passionate struggle of the Spanish working class to create its own political organization of society, its leadership of the struggle against Spanish fascism and the romance surrounding the entry of the International Brigades, particularly the American Abraham Lincoln Battalion of the 15th Brigade, into the struggle.

Underlying my interests has always been a nagging question of how that struggle could have been won by the working class. The Spanish proletariat certainly was capable of both heroic action and the ability to create organizations that reflected its own class interests i.e. the worker militias and factory committees. Of all modern working class revolutions after the Russian revolution Spain showed the most promise of success. Bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky noted that the political class consciousness of the Spanish proletariat was higher than that of the Russian proletariat in 1917. Yet it failed in Spain.

Trotsky's writings on this period represent a provocative and thoughtful approach to an understanding of the causes of that failure. (See all my reviews for a review of his work on the Spanish Revolution). Professor Payne's work under review here on the pro-Republican and left wing parties in that revolution fills out in detail the relationship of the various leftist forces from the abdication of the king in 1931 through the victory by Franco in 1939. Properly used they provide very strong ammunition for Trotsky's political conclusions.

Professor Payne rightly explores the long dominance of anarchism and anarcho-syndicalism in Spain and its hold over the organized working class, both industrial and rural, up to the time of the revolution. Its history of apoliticism and localism left it ill- prepared to lead a revolution and in one of those ironies of history it joined a very bourgeois Popular Front government against all its so-called theoretical intransigence. Payne also notes the tensions in the Socialist Party that resulted from both Spanish conditions and the general European political scene after the defeat of the German working class by Hitler.

It was this tension between the reformist and revolutionary sections of many European socialist parties that Trotsky noted and led to his tactic of entry into those parties in order to split out a new international revolutionary organization. The professor also gives plenty of space to the vanguard role of Catalonia in Spanish developments including the equivocal role of the anti-Stalinist pro-communist Party of Marxist Unification (POUM). Most importantly, he charts the dramatic rise of the Stalinist Communist Party, agent of the Comintern and Soviet foreign policy, as the backbone of the political, security and military establishment of the Popular Front government. In the end, of course, as we know their role was not merely anti-revolutionary but counter revolutionary.

Professor Payne's political position seems to be that somehow, somewhere a democratic republic could have been forged out of the welter of parties fighting for power in Spain. That is the thread that runs through the book. Thus, the lessons he wants to draw are very different from those we want to draw. Fair enough. If we only used favorable left-wing sources we would have a rather skewed look at history. Nevertheless in his presentation Professor Payne keeps hammering on the point that the forces he hoped would have succeeded were not there or were not up to the task. And as 1936 approached that situation only got worst.

That, my friends, although Professor Payne does not recognize it is what the pre-conditions for revolutionary action are all about. Spanish society was splitting up and it was either socialism or the Spanish version of fascism. To our sorrow, fascism won. Spain represented the last best opportunity for a straight up socialist revolution in Europe. Thus the events there bear careful study. Especially a study of the left-wing forces. Needless to say, as with all older historical works, much new information has surfaced in the post-Franco period and the scholarly literature on the period has exploded but as a general study of the leftist parties, their programs and their policies it holds up very well. Take advantage of that fact. Yes, read Hugh Thomas for a general history of the revolution. Yes, read Trotsky for the politics. But also read this book.

The focus is on the Left but seems without bias.

Apparently, up until the war ended, the majority of atrocities were committed by the Left. That changed dramatically with the end of the war.

The Left in general, and in particular the anarchists, did not coordinate well. This, and not just the lack of support by England and France, may be a signifcant factor in explaining the Left's loss.

More than half of the professional military at the time of the war's start was on the side of the Left. However, the Right made far more effective use of their professional military members.

Because the anarchists coordinated poorly, the communists were able to take control of the Left. But, aside from the Soviet Union, other external powers may have preferred Spain be a [...]state rather than a communist state (leading to continued non-intervention). Contrary to pro-anarchist writers like Rudolf Rocker, despite some anarchist accomplishments during this war, the overall impression is that the Left was damaged by the anarchist's organizational problems. I didn't come away from this book feeling that the Spanish Civil War was an example of the strengths of anarchism, at least during wartime.

Payne's writing flows and there's a good balance between details and analysis, so I didn't get lost "among the trees". The impression is that Payne knew his subject extremely well and presented it thoughtfully with the reader's experience in mind.

The write ups are very detailed and specific. You can visualize every inn even down to each room. A great and valuable guide when traveling in Portugal!

We used this to pick our lodging choice for Obidos in Portugal. We did the right thing! The lovely B&B where we stayed was magical and the price was very good. If the book's other choices are this good, you'll do well to buy it.

This book will be of interest to the independent minded adventurer looking for interesting, out of the way places to visit.
I learned of this book while I was staying at one of the "special places" described. Earlier, I had stayed at two others described in the book. Each of the three was intially found by searching the www. To my amazement, I discovered each description of each of the three "special places" to be very accurate in all respects. I suspect that the remaining descriptions are lkely to be equally reliable.
The book provides brief descriptions of each place's life style, surroundings, and of the hosts' personal interests. In many cases a brief history is provided. A marvelous accomplishment considering the brevity yet completeness of each description.
I find it to be an excellent guide for independently planning my coming 3 month excursion to the south of Spain. My copy is now well worn and well marked.

I used this book to plan a 10 driving day vacation to the south of Spain from Malaga to Granada, Seville and Gibraltar. Alastair gives a very good (and truthful) description of the houses/hotels/villas/flats on offer. The prices are (almost always) correct and the places listed are truly amazing. From an Aristocrats elegant town house in the Jewish district of Seville to a Victorian mansion house overlooking the bay of Gibraltar...not once was I disappointed in Alastair's definition of a "special place". If you are planning a trip to Spain and you want to get away from the beaten track, then this book is the one for you.

This was the greatest. I want to buy copies for Christmas gifts..I was laughing, agreeing, crying, and laughing again. Drink Cultura was just as awesome, I wish I could meet you in person, and have you sign my book...Que Viva la Raza..Y que Dios los bengiga con mas y mas...

When i opened up the book I had zero expectations because i had never heard of this author. As I started reading I found myself laughing out loud. I nervously looked around to check if anyone was around. Its that kind of book. As a mexican I found I had alot of things in common with many parts of this book. I feel very strongly that all latinos will be able to relate with some or most of this book's content. I really recommend this book to everyone. If you are not a latino or chicano you will be able to enjoy a slice of my culture as well as the culture of chicanos. I would frequently show tidbits of the book to my friends. This book has the right mixture of humor, inside jokes, facts, and deals with some serious issues. A book to be read more than once.

Its great. Very handy, easy to open. Finally no more coffee stains while looking for a street. I do recommend this map to anybody. You always open it on the right spot.

I Love these Streetwise maps! The are a durable plastic construction and compact, EASY to take and use anywhere, rain or shine! They are also very detailied and clearly laid out! I highly reccomend them! I have several!

Richards is a British academic of the highest order and this is an amazing work. This is a work biased against the Franco regime; however, it is pivital in helping understand the extraordinatry lengths that Nationalist Spain went to wrangle control of Spanish popular culture in the Civil War through the end of the Second World War.

My only question is why on earth is this paperback edition so over-priced? It's a shame because it lessens the ability of the casual reader (although this is certainly more of an academic work) to take an interest in this subject.

A reader may be a bit disconcerted on first reading this book. There is much talk about "discourses" and "symbolism" and "ideology" and one might conclude that we are about to read a book of cultural studies on Francoist Spain. It is not so much that cultural studies are bad as that before we talk about perceptions of an event it might be a better idea to have a clear idea of what actually happened. As it happens such fears are groundless. What we have here is a brilliant portrait of the cruelty of Franco's regime. It is amazingly well documnted, with 95 pages of notes to 174 of text.

Richards argues that the ideology of the New State had two basic components. On the one hand the state had to purge Spain of the half of it who were secular, liberal, socialist, or regionalist. In a sense Franco's Spain would have to wage a permanent civil war against half of its own population. The other prong of the ideology was that Spain would follow a firm and ruthless policy of self-sufficiency. It has long been a cliche of much conservative and centrist discourse that notwithstanding the aid Franco got from the Axis, he should not be viewed as a fascist, but more as a classically "authoritarian" ruler, and therefore setting the stage for the properly pro-Western democracy that was to follow. Franco's goal were fundamentally traditional, as opposed to the radical ideology of the world's totalitarian regimes. Indeed, one could say the Nationalists were preferable to the Loyalists, who were now little more than Communist puppets. Such a thesis will soon appear next year when a book on that subject will be published by professional anti-communist Ronald Radosh. After reading this book, such complacent views will be placed firmly on the defensive.

For Richards starts with a chapter on the Francoist eliminiation of dissent. On the Loyalist side much of the violence was spontaneous in the aftermath of the breakdown of establish order in the wake of the coup. Juan Negrin, so often and so falsely dismissed as a Communist puppet, actually went of his way to patrol with militias in order to prevent political assasinations. On the nationalist side, by contrast, there was constant talk of extermination, liquidation, of an utterly uncompromising crusade from politicians who were proud of and not ashamed of the Spanish Inquisition. The Nazi press praised the Nationalists for their vigor: "The Marxist parties are being destroyed and exterminated down the very last cell far more dramatically even than here in Germany." Perhaps 6,000 were summarily executed in Seville alone before February 1937. (Richards adds "This was not violence which was `necessary' in any military sense: there was no organized armed resistance to speak of." ) In Granada perhaps 8,000 were killed, and perhaps 4,000 were killed in the first week at Malaga. A thousand were killed in the conquest of San Sebastian in the Basque Country, and another thousand at Bilbao. There were fourteen concentration camps in the area of Valencia alone, while Mussolini's son in law, Count Ciano, believed that there were 200 executions daily in conquered Madrid in the summer of 1939.

This cruelty was encouraged by an ideology that had a misogynist contempt for independent woman, and had a morbid support for "chastity" and "purity." But should also read Richard's chapters on autarky. Much of Franco's support came from smallholders, and Franco spoke of freeing Spain from the noxious influence of the cities. But in fact the peasants would be rendered powerless by Franco. Wheat production was lower in 1949 than at the end of the war, and what wheat did exist was guaranteed at high prices for rich producers, and subjected to speculation and the Black Market. Consumption of wheat fell by more than a quarter in the first decade of Falangist rule, as officials refused to upset their autarkic dreams by importing wheat to a country that could not feed itself. Indeed scarce food was shipped to Germany and Italy. While overcrowding and poverty increased, profits boomed and industrialists strengthened their privileges. All in all the first two decades to the New State were a total loss. A 1991 article by Giovanni Arrighi in the New Left Review demonstrates this. In the thirties Spain per capita wealth was about 40% of the European core. By 1959, Spain's wealth was less than 20%. Only after the economic boom did it rise again to pre civil war levels. In other words, a total waste.

Having just returned from a trip from Barcelona with this book firmly anchored in my side bag, I can attest to how spot-on its recommendations were all about town. From bars to cafes, museums and parks, architecture to paella, this guide will give you the info you need. The only downside is a few out-of-date entries, and a map that's often confusing. Pair this book guide with a Streetwise and you can't go wrong...

If you're going to bring only one book with you, this is the one! Unlike many of the other guide books, the restaurant suggestions were actually good. I spent a few months in Barcelona and had several books with me, but in the end, this was the only one worth using. I've found many guide books to be aimed at the collegiate set or the elderly. As a twenty-something looking for hip bars, good restaurants, and insider tips, I found this to be the most helpful. It also has all the info you need about museums, sights, transportation, hotels, etc.

With only one weekend to spend in Barcelona, the Time Out Barcelona: Eating & Drinking book guided us to a couple of great resteraunts. Like other Time Out publications the writers tell it like it is, plus it made for enjoyable reading on the plane.

it's a bit out of date now (some of the places have closed or changed hands) but still a great read - often with hilarious observations sneaked into the reviews. Plenty of good advice on bargain set lunches, wines, local specilaities and unusual restaurants. I live in Barcelona and still use it weekly for my restaurant picks as, unlke local restauarnt guides, each review comes with closing times, credit card policies, metro stops and illustrated map refereneces. Very handy - when's the next edition coming out?

This new edition came out just in time for our July 2001 trip to Lisbon, and we found it to be the best guidebook out of the few we purchased. The city maps are great, the recommendations are right on, and the trips out of town section is a great bonus. This book was a great resource to find beyond the tourist track activities, sights and restaurants, with honest opinions.

A great plus is that the book is small enough to easily slip into a travel bag and tote with you around town. Bravo!

We cancelled our Christmas trip to Buenos Aires at the last minute due to the rioting there and we had 2 days to come up with another plan. We went through the Time Out city guides (as they have been terrific for previous trips to Naples, Edinburgh and Venice)and Lisbon seemed like the perfect place for a 4 day trip out of New York City. We immediately got to work using this guide to pick the hotel and create a simple and groovy 4 day itinerary of museums, restaurants and sights. The guide was so easy to use, it has well detailed maps and all the described places are given clear map references. Unlike the case with many other guide's hotel reviews, the hotel we picked was exactly as they described it.
The guide is also great if you enjoy exploring the newer and more modern parts of European cities (the Guggenheim isn't the only modern architecture worth seeing on the Iberian Penninsuala). We visited the former site of the Expo 98 and it was fascinating and exciting with many examples of world class architecture.
The gay and lesbian section was also very accurate and insightful.
I think these city guides suit openminded and adventurous travellers who are willing to visit places in a slightly left of center way and mix with all different types of people.

As a veteran on the Camino for many years, This is the book we read from, between our prayers.

The book helped focus our spiritual mission and also to uplift us. There are few books on this subject that I could recommend but this is certainly one that comes on top of my list

'At the heart of each of us, whatever our imperfections, there exists a silent pulse of perfect rhythm, a complex of wave forms and resonances, which is absolutely individual and unique.

This book helped us to resonance with the holy places we visited on the road to Santiago

Reading this book, whose subject is about recovering a sense of simplicity about what is really necessary for our journeys and what is excess, is itself a pilgrimage. Reading it as a tourist will not do. There is so much to learn from the well-chosen and well-spaced reflections by pilgrims offered in these pages. Much wisdom emerges from the deep and simple observations of the wanderers contained herein. A book such as this leads us to deep places as does every pilgrimage. Spirit emerges on every page...