Description
THE TELEGRAPH OPERATOR OF BARBASTRO
Book Summary
A moving story based on real events that chronicles the odyssey of a telegraph operator from republican Madrid during the Spanish Civil War. Stationed in Barbastro, the protagonist practices his trade until the arrival of Francoist troops forces him to flee with his family toward France via Pyrenean routes. After hiding in a cabin, he decides to defect to the other side, facing a harsh purge process. This novel showcases the resilience of an ordinary man buffeted by history, forced to make extreme decisions and practice his profession on both sides, in a tale of hope and reconciliation.
What is it about?
In the midst of the Spanish Civil War, a telegraph operator stationed in republican Madrid is transferred to Barbastro, a small town in Upper Aragon. He serves there until March 1938, when the advance of the Francoist army puts him in an extreme situation. Together with his family, he begins a dangerous flight to France through Pyrenean routes, but the journey becomes unsustainable. Hidden in a cabin in the middle of the countryside, they decide to surrender to enemy troops with the intention of switching sides. From that moment on, the telegraph operator must undergo a purge process that will test his loyalty, his identity, and his will to survive. The novel follows his steps as he is buffeted by events, forced to make painful decisions and to exercise his trade on both warring sides, in a story that explores human resilience in the face of adversity.
Main themes
- The Spanish Civil War and its human consequences
- The figure of the telegraph operator as a neutral witness in an armed conflict
- Forced exile and the flight through the Aragonese Pyrenees
- Political purge processes and survival on both sides
- Family resilience and the capacity for endurance in the face of adversity
- Hope and reconciliation in times of hatred and division
Who is it recommended for?
This work is aimed at readers interested in Spanish historical fiction, especially tales set during the Civil War from a human and everyday perspective. It will also appeal to those seeking stories based on real events that explore the moral complexity of people caught in armed conflicts, as well as those who value novels about survival, exile, and family reconciliation.
What this book offers
- An intimate and realistic look at the experience of an ordinary man caught between two sides, showing the complexity of decision-making in times of war.
- A moving account of family resistance and survival, based on documented facts that provide historical authenticity.
- A reflection on identity, loyalty, and the possibility of reconciliation after the fracture of a civil war.
- The recovery of the figure of the telegraph operator as an essential trade in communication during the conflict, providing an original and rarely explored focus.
Technical specifications
- Author: CARRERO ERAS, PEDRO
- Publisher: EDICIONES DEL VIENTO,S.L
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION
- Collection: VIENTO ABIERTO
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2021
- Number of pages: 208
- Dimensions: Not available
- Weight: 370 g
Editorial review
A realistic historical novel that stands out for its focus on the individual experience within a collective conflict. The work offers an unusual perspective by centering on a telegraph operator, a profession that symbolizes communication in a time of rupture. Its sober style and documentary base provide credibility to the narrative, while the tension between survival and loyalty maintains the reader's interest. Recommended for those looking for a read that combines historical rigor with human emotion, without falling into manichaeism.