'Perfidious Albion' - Britain and the Spanish Civil War

by Paul Preston

This collection of essays by Paul Preston, the preeminent historian of modern Spain, falls broadly into three sections. The first part focuses on the hypocrisy of British foreign policy towards the Spanish Republic, a policy that was greatly influenced by right-wing diplomats Norman King and Sir Henry Chilton. Part two (in sharp contrast) discusses the selfless contribution and humanitarian efforts of medical personnel from across the globe, including many doctors and nurses from Britain, Ireland and Commonwealth countries. Part three assesses the influence of four prominent ‘writer-historians’ (George Orwell, Herbert Southworth, Burnett Bolloten and Gerald Brenan) on British perceptions of the Spanish Civil War. Essential reading for anyone interested in a comprehensive and fascinating look at the influences that shaped British foreign policy and attitudes towards Spain at a critical time in its history.

Genres: Nonfiction

282 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2024

About the author

Paul Preston, author of Franco and Juan Carlos, holds the Príncipe de Asturias Chair of Contemporary Spanish History at the London School of Economics. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Sergio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brillante, como siempre, Paul Preston. El papel de Francia e Inglaterra fue decisivo para el transcurso de la guerra, dejando las manos libres a Italia y Alemania. Nunca había leído sobre el trabajo de los servicios sanitarios durante la guerra. Es muy interesante conocer estos detalles. Y por último, las obras de Gerald Brenan y George Orwell sobre la guerra civil fueron determinantes para la visión que tuvo el mundo tras la guerra, con sus aciertos y sus errores.

[Tom Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfidious Albion: Britain and the Spanish Civil War is an exceptional and deeply insightful analysis of Britain’s role in one of the most turbulent periods of 20th-century history. Preston expertly examines the complex political dynamics and diplomatic maneuvering that characterized Britain’s response to the Spanish Civil War. What stands out is the detailed exploration of the contradictions and challenges faced by the British government, from its policy of non-intervention to its ambivalence towards the Republican cause.

[MrBReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sympathetic 3/5...

Content: 3.5 - several of the chapters were downright engrossing, and even the ones with drier subject matters were interesting to read.

Half a star is dropped for some of the editing issues which led to several typos, particularly early in the book, which detracted from the scholarship it undoubtedly contains.

6/10 seems fair, so logically a 3/5, however harsh that looks for what was on balance an interesting and insightful book on this most fascinating of historical events.

[Carlos Holemans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apasionantes los dos capítulos sobre la tragedia de la espantá de Málaga a Almería, y sobre el bloqueo marítimo de Bilbao por la armada franquista y su enfrentamiento con la Navy.
El resto del libro, un poco menos interesante a mi modo de ver. Quizá eso se debe a que ya conocía la visión de la guerra civil que Orwell describe en Homage to Catalonia y a la cual este libro dedica un capítulo crítico.

[Osmundosdemi · Rating 2 out of 5]

En La pérfida de Albión, Paul Preston revela cómo la supuesta neutralidad británica durante la Guerra Civil española fue, en realidad, una política que favoreció a Franco. Con rigor y documentación, denuncia la hipocresía del gobierno británico y su responsabilidad moral en el triunfo del franquismo. Aunque más académico que narrativo, el libro es fundamental para comprender la dimensión internacional del conflicto.