Description
The Urquijos in the Spanish Civil War
Book Summary
This book offers a detailed and human account of how the Spanish Civil War burst into the lives of one of the country's most influential families. Through the experiences of the Urquijos, the reader witnesses the contrast between the splendor of high society in the twenties and the tragedy that tore Spain apart, breaking up families and plunging the country into horror. With historical rigor and a strong narrative pulse, Pedro Carvajal Urquijo reconstructs his own family's memory, offering a unique perspective on a crucial period of our history.
What is it about?
The work delves into the history of the Urquijo family, whose heyday was experienced in the twenties at the Lamuza Palace in Llodio. There, amidst parties, tennis matches, and visits from royalty and the intelligentsia, no one imagined the catastrophe that was looming. The book narrates how the Spanish Civil War, with its violence and division, struck this family, whose bank was an engine of the country's industrial development. The author, a direct descendant, combines family memory with objective research to offer a vibrant testimony about loss, resistance, and the impact of the war on a lineage that had it all.
Main themes
- The Spanish Civil War and its impact on economic and social elites.
- Family memory and the historical reconstruction of a lineage.
- The contrast between pre-war aristocratic life and the tragedy of the conflict.
- The influence of financial power on the history of Spain.
- The story of loss and the disintegration of a world.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the history of 20th-century Spain, especially the Civil War from a social and family perspective. It will also be of great interest to those who enjoy historical biographies, personal memoirs, and accounts that explore the human side of major events. It is an ideal read for those looking for a rigorous yet accessible narrative, with an intimate and well-documented approach.
What this book contributes
- A detailed and human vision of the Civil War through the eyes of a key family in the country's economic history.
- A narrative based on primary sources and family memory, which provides a unique and truthful perspective.
- An understanding of how the war directly affected power structures and personal relationships.
- A narrative that combines the historian's rigor with the emotion of personal testimony.
Technical specifications
- Author: Carvajal Urquijo, Pedro
- Publisher: Ediciones del Viento, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Biography and true stories, Biography: historical, political and military, Diaries, letters and logs, Biography collection, Memoirs, True stories, Literary essays, History of Spain
- Collection: Viento Céfiro
- Binding: Paperback
- Date of publication: November 2012
- Number of pages: 438
- Weight: 832 g
Editorial review
We are looking at a work that achieves a commendable balance between historical research and personal narrative. The author, being part of the protagonist family, provides a closeness and knowledge of the intricacies that an outside historian could hardly possess. The work is a valuable testimony not only to understand the drama of the Civil War, but also to delve into the world of the high bourgeoisie and the Spanish aristocracy of the time. Reading it will be rewarding for those looking for a serious, well-written account with a human perspective that enriches the understanding of a complex and painful period.