{"product_id":"9788419119926","title":"Carabanchel: the Death Star of Francoism.","description":"\u003ch2\u003eCarabanchel. The Death Star of Francoism\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBook Summary\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis historical essay reconstructs the complete biography of Carabanchel Prison, from its construction in 1940 using enslaved Republican labor to its demolition in 2008. Historian Luis A. Ruiz Casero, supported by the Platform for the Carabanchel Prison Memory Center, manages to overcome a \"documentary holocaust\" to offer a general history of this painful heritage. The reader will find a detailed analysis of the oppressive mechanisms of the Franco regime, the daily life of the prisoners, the role of women, methods of torture, forms of resistance, and escape attempts, all narrated with rigor and an enviable capacity to bring history to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is it about?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book delves into the history of the largest and most overcrowded prison of the post-war Spanish period, conceived as the flagship of Francoist repression. Ruiz Casero not only documents the panoptic design and the succession of abuses that turned it into the \"Death Star,\" but also recovers the memory of its protagonists. Aspects addressed include the construction of the prison by Republican inmates, the crucial importance of the prisoners' wives, the profiles of the most terrible torturers, the prisoners' strategies for unity and resistance, the ingenuity used to say goodbye to those condemned to death, the formation of the COPEL (Coordinator of Prisoners in Struggle), and the continuous escape attempts, some of which were successful. The work culminates with the process of closure, abandonment, and demolition of the building in 2008, which resulted in the loss of most of its archives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMain Topics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003ePenitentiary repression during the Franco dictatorship and the Transition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003ePrison architecture and panoptic design as a tool of control.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eDaily life, resistance, and solidarity among political and common prisoners.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThe role of women in the prison environment as support systems and activists.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical memory, uncomfortable heritage, and the struggle for documentary preservation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eSocial and cultural history of 20th-century Spain through an iconic space.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is it recommended for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is aimed at readers interested in the contemporary history of Spain, historical memory, studies on Francoist repression, and the penitentiary system. It will also be of great value to researchers, students of history and social sciences, as well as anyone who wishes to understand how a building can encapsulate six decades of Spanish society, from the dictatorship to democracy. It is an essential read for those seeking a rigorous, well-documented work that moves away from official narratives about the recent past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat this book offers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eAn exhaustive reconstruction of the history of Carabanchel despite the loss of its original archives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA comprehensive vision that combines the regime's oppression with the daily life and resistance of the prisoners.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThe recovery of key testimonies and figures, such as the role of women and the torturers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA critical analysis of the Transition and the management of the memory of repressive spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA tool for understanding the roots of current Spanish society through its penitentiary past.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eAuthor: RUIZ CASERO, LUIS A\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: LIBROS DEL K.O, S.L.L\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eLanguage: Spanish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eSubject: LITERARY ESSAYS, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eCollection: NON-FICTION\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eEdition date: March 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eNumber of pages: 264\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 345 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEditorial Assessment\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a reference work for understanding the history of the prison that best symbolizes Francoist repression. The author demonstrates exceptional rigor in reconstructing a narrative fragmented by the loss of archives, offering a story that is both academic and deeply human. The book stands out for its ability to connect the macro-history of the regime with the micro-history of the prisoners, their families, and their executioners. It is a necessary and revealing read that, as National Essay Prize winner Alfredo González-Ruibal points out, helps us understand where we come from and where we are.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LIBROS DEL K.O, S.L.L","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53407209292123,"sku":"9788419119926","price":21.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1018\/0650\/6331\/files\/978841911992.jpg?v=1781850420","url":"https:\/\/kalamobooks.com\/en\/products\/9788419119926","provider":"Kalamo Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}