Twentieth-Century Spain
A History

A much-needed new overview of twentieth-century Spanish social and political history which sets developments within a European context.

Julián Casanova (Author), Carlos Gil Andrés (Author)

9781107602670, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 3 July 2014

397 pages, 14 b/w illus. 2 maps
22.6 x 15.7 x 1.7 cm, 0.63 kg

'The book is a masterful synthesis of recent research, offering a readable and myth-busting account of Spain's turbulent experience of Europe's 'dark' century.' Carl-Henrik Bjerstrom, Journal of Contemporary History

This is a much-needed new overview of Spanish social and political history which sets developments in twentieth-century Spain within a broader European context. Julián Casanova, one of Spain's leading historians, and Carlos Gil Andrés chart the country's experience of democracy, dictatorship and civil war and its dramatic transformation from an agricultural and rural society to an industrial and urban society fully integrated into Europe. They address key questions and issues that continue to be discussed and debated in contemporary historiography, such as why the Republic was defeated, why Franco's dictatorship lasted so long and what mark it has left on contemporary Spain. This is an essential book for students as well as for anyone interested in Spain's turbulent twentieth century.

Part I. The Monarchy of Alfonso XIII: 1. The legacy of a century
2. The 'revolution from above'
3. The crisis of the liberal regime
4. The Primo De Rivera years
Part II. The Second Republic: 5. A parliamentary and constitutional Republic
6. A Republic beleaguered
7. 1936: the destruction of democracy
Part III. The Civil War: 8. Spain split in two
9. Politics and arms
Part IV. Franco's Dictatorship: 10. Franco's peace
11. 'The spiritual reserve of the world'
12. The death throes of Francoism
Part IV. Transition and Democracy: 13. The transition
14. Democracy.

Subject Areas: European history [HBJD]