Description
FOR OR AGAINST
Book Summary
This volume collects one of the most cited documents regarding the political positioning of intellectuals during the Spanish Civil War. In the autumn of 1937, the British magazine Left Review, promoted by Nancy Cunard, posed two direct questions to writers in the United Kingdom: whether they were for or against the Republican Government and the Spanish people, and whether they were for or against Franco and fascism. The result is a collection of 148 responses that not only reflect the taking of sides at the time, but also constitute a historical and literary testimony of the highest order.
What is it about?
The book is structured into three sections that classify the responses received: "For the Government," "Neutral," and "Against the Government." Through them, the reader gains access to the stances of key figures in Anglo-Saxon literature and thought, such as George Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, W. H. Auden, T. S. Eliot, Samuel Beckett, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, or Evelyn Waugh, among many others. Additionally, it includes a selection of responses to the same questionnaire conducted in the United States, which broadens the transatlantic perspective of the conflict. The work not only documents the opinions of intellectuals but also invites reflection on the role of the writer in the face of political and moral crises.
Main themes
- Political commitment of intellectuals during the Spanish Civil War.
- The dichotomy between neutrality and taking sides in contexts of conflict.
- The role of literature and essays as tools for ideological positioning.
- The Spanish Civil War as a catalyst for ethical and political debate in the cultural sphere.
- The response of British and American writers to the rise of fascism.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the intellectual history of the 20th century, the Spanish Civil War, and the political commitment of writers. It is also of great value to students of literature, contemporary history, and political science, as well as anyone who wishes to understand how public opinion makers positioned themselves regarding one of the most defining conflicts of the last century.
What this book contributes
- Direct access to the original stances of more than 140 English-speaking writers regarding the Spanish Civil War.
- A fundamental historical document for understanding the relationship between culture and politics in the 1930s.
- A comparative perspective between British and American responses.
- Reflection material on the responsibility of the intellectual in times of crisis.
- A literary testimony that combines documentary value with the quality of the signatures gathered.
Technical sheet
- Author: Various Authors
- Publisher: EDICIONES LA UÑA ROTA
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: LITERARY ESSAYS
- Collection: MICRORROTURAS
- Publication date: November 2021
- Number of pages: 152
- Weight: 137 g
Editorial review
This work constitutes an essential testimony for those who study the relationship between literature and political commitment. The selection of responses, signed by some of the most relevant pens of the 20th century, offers a multifaceted and sincere vision of how intellectuals faced the question of their position regarding the Spanish Civil War. Its value lies both in the quality of the authors gathered and in the relevance of the debate on neutrality and taking sides in contexts of crisis. A historical document that transcends its time and continues to challenge the contemporary reader.