A People's History of Catalonia
Exploring centuries of struggle and resilience for independence
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Pluto Press
Published:20th Sep '22
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£85.00(9780745342122)
This book chronicles the enduring struggles of Catalonia for survival and independence, highlighting its rich history and the ongoing fight for self-determination.
The book A People's History of Catalonia delves into the rich and complex history of Catalonia, focusing on its long-standing struggles for survival and independence. The narrative begins with the events of October 1, 2017, when Spanish police violently intervened during a peaceful referendum, bringing global attention to Catalonia's quest for self-determination. This incident is a poignant reminder of the ongoing fight for recognition and rights that Catalans have faced throughout history, with over two million voters still holding on to their aspirations for independence.
Catalonia's national consciousness is deeply rooted in a past filled with resistance against oppression. A People's History of Catalonia explores this small region's journey from the peasant revolts of the 15th century to the significant workers' movements of the 20th century. The author highlights the intertwined nature of national sovereignty and social justice, particularly in Barcelona, which earned the moniker 'Rose of Fire' during the tumultuous years of the Spanish Civil War. The narrative paints a vivid picture of the struggles and triumphs that have shaped Catalonia's identity.
Through a detailed examination of historical events, including the siege of Barcelona in 1714 and the anti-Franco resistance, the book captures the essence of a people determined to reclaim their rights. The compelling story told in A People's History of Catalonia underscores that the conclusion of this saga remains unwritten, inviting readers to reflect on the future of Catalonia and its enduring fight for freedom.
'Catalonia’s aspiration to cut loose from the Spanish state is often dismissed as the whim of a self-interested merchant class. The truth is more complicated. As Michael Eaude’s sharp, engrossing, and comprehensive historical narrative makes clear, the centuries-long push for Catalan independence is closely entwined with the peasant- and working-class struggle for social justice and democratic government'
-- Sebastiaan Faber, author of ‘Exhuming Franco’'This well-written study takes us on a much-needed historical journey from below, eloquently capturing the rebellious traditions of Catalonia's assertive and proudly defiant popular classes from medieval times to today. By combining broad strokes and intricate detail, he establishes crucial connections between past and contemporary struggles to produce a vivid picture of the class war in a fractured and divided society that produced, in many respects, the most far-reaching social revolution in European history'
-- Chris Ealham, author of 'Anarchism And The City’'This timely and impressive book not only dispels the myths and prejudices about the Catalan people's struggles, so prevalent in Spain and elsewhere, but demonstrates the constant intertwining of the battles for national rights with peasant and working-class revolt "from below". A thoroughly recommended read'
-- Andy Durgan, historian and author of 'Voluntarios por la revolución’'Gives a voice to one of the most rebellious people in Europe whose insurgency reached a pinnacle in 1936 with working class revolution in Catalonia and continued through the ending of the Franco dictatorship through to today's fight to gain independence in the face of Spanish repression and nationalism. Michael does the Catalan people proud'
-- Chris Bambery, author of 'Catalonia Reborn' and Public Point of Enquiry for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Catalonia'Gripping … Eaude provides an impressive and accessible roller-coaster history'
-- Luke Stobart, JacISBN: 9780745342139
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 308g
288 pages