Description
THOSE YEARS IN THE SAHARA (1973-1975)
Book Summary
This autobiographical account transports the reader to the final years of the Spanish presence in Western Sahara. Through the eyes of a university student punished with military service in the desert for his political activism, Pascual Ortuño reconstructs the social, political, and military contradictions of a complex era. The work offers direct testimony on life in the barracks, relationships with the Sahrawi population, and the atmosphere prior to the handover of the territory to Morocco, combining historical rigor with a clear and engaging narrative.
What is it about?
The book chronicles the experience of the protagonist, a young university student who, due to his political activism, is assigned to complete his military service in the Spanish Sahara between 1973 and 1975. Throughout these pages, the author describes in detail the daily life in the barracks, the relationships between soldiers and officers, and contact with Sahrawi culture and customs. The account is set in a key historical context, marked by the Carnation Revolution in Portugal (April 1974) and the growing diplomatic tensions that led to the Green March and the subsequent handover of the territory to Morocco, breaking promises made to the Sahrawi population. The narrative reveals the contradictions of a Spain in transition and offers a human and intimate view of those years.
Main themes
- Compulsory military service as a formative experience and source of personal conflict.
- Political activism and repression during the late Franco era.
- Daily life in the Spanish Sahara and contact with Sahrawi culture.
- Political and diplomatic contradictions in the decolonization process.
- Historical memory of a little-known episode in Spain's recent history.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in historical memory and the contemporary history of Spain, especially the period of the transition and the decolonization processes. It will also appeal to those seeking personal testimonies about military service and life in the Sahara, as well as fans of historical fiction based on autobiography.
What this book offers
- A direct and personal testimony about a poorly documented historical period from the soldiers' experience.
- A critical and nuanced view of the political and social contradictions of 1970s Spain.
- The opportunity to learn about the culture and life in the Sahara from a human and intimate perspective.
- An engaging and precise narrative that combines historical rigor with the emotion of a lived story.
Technical specifications
- Author: ORTUÑO MUÑOZ, PASCUAL
- Publisher: EDICIONES DEL AZAR
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: MEMOIRS, MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, HISTORY
- Collection: UNIQUE BOOKS
- Edition date: March 2022
- Number of pages: 364
- Weight: 300 g
Editorial review
This is a work that provides an unusual perspective on a historical episode that remains a subject of controversy. The combination of personal memory and historical context offers the reader an authentic immersion into the life of soldiers stationed in the Sahara, while inviting reflection on the consequences of political decisions. Its clear and direct style facilitates reading, making it a title recommended both for those seeking historical testimony and for those interested in coming-of-age and personal growth stories.