tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post7246787794538435313..comments2024-03-25T07:40:01.436+00:00Comments on Diary of a Gaming Magpie: Book Review: The Spanish Holocaust by Paul PrestonPhyllionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01451215894349113521noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-88305986283647250372013-09-15T10:26:50.172+01:002013-09-15T10:26:50.172+01:00Thanks Curt and you are most welcome for the revie...Thanks Curt and you are most welcome for the review. Thanks for the use of your images to illustrate. I agree that it seems like an important work in English and am glad I picked it up. Phyllionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451215894349113521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-38442757503976580492013-09-15T10:24:12.246+01:002013-09-15T10:24:12.246+01:00Cheers Jim, it sounds like Beevor is worth a look,...Cheers Jim, it sounds like Beevor is worth a look, especially as his other works are held in high esteem as being accessible yet detailedPhyllionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451215894349113521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-63119282524160249822013-09-15T10:21:59.821+01:002013-09-15T10:21:59.821+01:00I has similar thoughts as I read the prologue Samu...I has similar thoughts as I read the prologue Samulus, but as I read though the book, I increasingly came to agree it was justifiable given the events described, rather than sensationalistPhyllionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451215894349113521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-68410968428131337992013-09-15T10:17:53.918+01:002013-09-15T10:17:53.918+01:00Interesting, I'll look those up.Interesting, I'll look those up. Phyllionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451215894349113521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-66697591527851092182013-09-15T06:33:05.132+01:002013-09-15T06:33:05.132+01:00A very good review, Phil, and thanks for taking th...A very good review, Phil, and thanks for taking the time and effort to put it together. I agree with you that the book is a hard slog, but as you say it's very worthwhile. I still like Beevor's book as it seems more accessible and provides more of a general survey of the conflict. Nevertheless, Preston's is a very important work as it brings to light the horrific (pervasive and systemic) nature of Franco's repressive regime to which many non-Spaniards had no real inkling. At first his choice of the word 'holocaust' seems heavy-handed but by the end of his book his arguments for the use of the term are (sadly) very well defended.Curthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03202047917371080576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-21222154768186491252013-09-14T11:04:13.997+01:002013-09-14T11:04:13.997+01:00Hi Jim
To be honest, I could not finish reading Be...Hi Jim<br />To be honest, I could not finish reading Beevor's book (I did not get hooked from the beginning and finally decided to stop reading because I was strugling to conclude the book) so I cannot make my own judgement; however it sounds funny to see the terms "Beevor - left" interlinked <br />:-) Anibal Invictushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-27710570165033593932013-09-14T10:59:56.623+01:002013-09-14T10:59:56.623+01:00Considering the several hundred thousand execution...Considering the several hundred thousand executions during and after the war (until well into de 50s), what term will you use? <br /><br />Equally disgraceful and not wanting to make a comparison in terms of numbers (a life is worth a life, independently of the numbers), but the the numer of people killed in Argentina and Chile in the black years of the military dictatorships runs the single thousands and they have been prosecuted for genocide. Anibal Invictushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-68565664857842675332013-09-14T00:42:16.457+01:002013-09-14T00:42:16.457+01:00I think Beevor's book is about the best on the...I think Beevor's book is about the best on the war in English, followed closely by Thomas's. <br /><br />Obviously few people write without some form of bias, be they authors or reviewers. Beevor's book does contain some errors and is written from the 'left'. However you do get the essential events and a lot of detail you won't find elsewhere.<br /><br />It can be a lot to take in though and you might find a re-read of some chapters helpful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-18541498116344618362013-09-13T21:01:40.947+01:002013-09-13T21:01:40.947+01:00Impressive review - thanks for taking the time to ...Impressive review - thanks for taking the time to write it out. I find the use of the term holocaust a little jarring - seems deliberately sensationalist? Samulushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07583858443749562521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-67528348809302302642013-09-13T19:18:27.179+01:002013-09-13T19:18:27.179+01:00This book is the best work on the highly sensitive...This book is the best work on the highly sensitive issue of repression in the SCW but would not recommend to any one with a wargaming interest. Hugh Thomas classic work is still a reference. Beevor's work although becoming a best seller got very bad reviews among Spanish historians.Anibal Invictushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646063079410770256.post-25357231064695959482013-09-13T17:46:05.667+01:002013-09-13T17:46:05.667+01:00Thanks for the review. An all to forgotten conflic...Thanks for the review. An all to forgotten conflict, with too much senseless violence.Joakim Strömhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11051664911310509718noreply@blogger.com