The Coming of the Spanish Civil War: Reform, Reaction and Revolution in the Second Republic

by Paul Preston

The breakdown of democracy in Spain in the 1930s resulted in a torrent of political and military violence. In this thoroughly revised edition of his classic text, Paul Preston provides a deeply disturbing explanation of the democratic collapse, coherently and excitingly outlining the social and economic background.
Since the first edition of this book was completed more than fifteen years ago, archives have been opened up, the diaries, letters and memoirs of major protagonists have been published and there have been innumerable studies of the politics of the Republic, of parties, unions, elections and social conflict, national and provincial. This edition updates the original text as exhaustively as possible to take account of the new material.

Genres: Spain, History, Spanish Civil War

366 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1994

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

[Jennifer Sarha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depressing and informative.

[Thomas Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite dense but still very readable, and focusing on key agents of the pre-civil war years gives this book the necessary cohesiveness, and keeps things clear. Which is no mean feat. Paul Preston has a keen eye for synthesis and criticism. After reading it I feel like I have a foundation of understanding of the conditions and events of the years leading up to conflict, and the key factors in the downfall of the Second Spanish Republic.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful read, repeats itself too much to be great. The author mocks the verbal revolutionism from Caballero for being performative, while also criticising the actual Revolutionism from young socialists and anarchists. Bit of a head scratcher that.

His coverage of the reactionary right is very informative and strikingly recognisable.

[Van Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for my research project. I particularly enjoyed his very strong stance on motivations and tensions before the war.