Description
WHEN DEATH CAME FROM THE SKY
Book Summary
This volume recovers an exceptional testimony of the Spanish Civil War: the previously unpublished typescript by Lluís de Salvador i Andrés, titled "Memòria relativa als bombardejos soferts per la població de Tarragona en el període de l'abril del 1937 al gener del 1939." Far from being a mere statistical record, the author offers a first-hand account of the bombings that devastated Tarragona, documenting with precision the events that marked an entire generation. The work is the second part of a family legacy that survived exile and the Second World War, and which is now published to offer a direct and human vision of a crucial chapter of our history.
What is it about?
The book focuses on the detailed chronicle of the bombings suffered by the city of Tarragona during the Civil War, from April 1937 to January 1939. The author, Lluís de Salvador i Andrés, meticulously compiled data on every air raid, but his work goes beyond the simple enumeration of dates and places. It is a personal and experiential testimony, written from the perspective of someone who lived through the conflict in the first person. The manuscript, which was kept hidden for decades and survived the author's exile in France during the Second World War, was donated to the Tarragona Municipal Library and Newspaper Archive in 1994. This edition follows the publication of "Tarragona sota les bombes" (2005) and completes the author's vision of those years, offering a narrative that combines documentary rigor with the emotion of memory.
Main themes
- Historical bombings of Tarragona during the Spanish Civil War.
- First-hand testimony and historical memory of the conflict.
- Daily life and resistance of the civilian population under air attacks.
- Republican exile and the survival of personal documents during the Second World War.
- A non-statistical, but human and experiential chronicle of a generation marked by war.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the contemporary history of Spain, especially the Civil War and its consequences. It is an essential work for historians, researchers, and students seeking primary sources and direct testimonies. It will also be of great value to the inhabitants of Tarragona and the surrounding province, as well as anyone who wishes to understand the human impact of war through a personal and documented narrative.
What this book contributes
- Access to an unpublished historical document, rescued from exile and war.
- A detailed, first-hand account of the bombings of Tarragona, with precise data and personal experiences.
- A human perspective that transcends the numbers, showing how the war marked the life of an entire generation.
- A valuable contribution to local and national historical memory, based on family testimony preserved for decades.
Technical specifications
- Author: Salvador i Andrés, Lluís de
- Publisher: Cossetània
- Language: Catalan
- Subject: Memoirs, 20th Century History: c. 1900-c. 2000, Spanish Civil War
- Collection: Memòria del Segle XX
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: May 2009
- Number of pages: 296
- Weight: 501 g
Editorial review
"Quan la mort venia del cel" is a testimony of great historical and human value. The work stands out for its authenticity, as it is a personal archival document that survived extreme circumstances. Its approach, which combines documentary rigor with lived experience, makes it a unique source for understanding the suffering of the civilian population during the Civil War. It is an essential read for those looking for an intimate and detailed vision of those years, and a significant contribution to the collective memory of Tarragona.