Monday, September 26, 2016

Just the Facts: Book Discussion Recap from September 22

Summer is over. Autumn is here. It’s to find a few good books to read in front of the fire. Maybe join a book discussion group. Many thanks to the eight people who passed on the last dregs of summer to attend.

The book discussed last, Hell and Good Company: the Spanish Civil War and the world it made by Richard Rhodes. In the 1930s, Spain was essentially a medieval society. The aristocracy and the Church held all the land and wealth and the peasants were exploited, illiterate and hungry. A coalition of left-wing parties won a legal and honest election and committed the government to land reform, education and health care. Think Bernie Sanders. Naturally, the aristocracy, the Church, and, most importantly, the army objected. The generals ordered an uprising against the legitimate government and in 1936, the Spanish Civil War began. It was an especially vicious conflict with atrocities committed by both sides. It was also the first proxy war. The Germans and the Italians armed and provided pilots for the fascist Nationalists and the Soviet Union aided the left-wing Republicans. It was a dress rehearsal for World War II. Our discussion was varied and spirited, covering the cruelty of other wars, Picasso’s painting Guernica, medical advances in war, the conflict in Syria and the world’s reaction to refugees and the reasons so many non-Spanish Americans and Europeans volunteered to fight for the Republicans.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, October 20, 2016. The book to be discussed, The Good Spy: the life and death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird, is available at the Circulation Desk. All are welcome.

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