The Spanish Civil War

Class Description

The devastating civil war in Spain from 1936 to 1939 foreshadowed the larger conflict between democracy and fascism during the Second World War. Rooted in long developing political and social tensions, the war between progressive republican and conservative nationalist forces in Spain quickly became an international cause, attracting foreign volunteers, including George Orwell, whose Homage to Catalonia will be discussed. Topics will include the causes of the war, the bombing of Guernica, and the rise to power of Francisco Franco.

Frank Biletz received his PhD in History from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history, and secondary fields in modern German and Spanish history. He is currently Adjunct Instructor in History at Loyola University Chicago and has been teaching seminars at the Newberry since 1994.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

Materials List

Required

• Paul Preston, The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution, and Revenge. W. W. Norton, 2006. ISBN: 978-039332972
• George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia. Mariner Books, 2015. ISBN: 978-0544382046

First Reading

• For the first class meeting, participants should read the introduction and chapter one of Paul Preston, The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution, and Revenge.

A Brief Syllabus

1. Origins of the Conflict
2. The Troubled Founding of the Spanish Republic, 1931-1933
3. The Popular Front and the Outbreak of Civil War, 1933-1936
4. The International Community Responds
5. The Battle for Madrid
6. George Orwell in Spain
7. Guernica and the Artistic Response to the War
8. The Triumph of the Right

Cost and Registration

8 Sessions, $300 ($270 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($300), Community Supported ($280), and Sponsor ($320). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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