Homage to Catalonia

By: George Orwell

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1936, George Orwell went to Spain to report on the civil war and instead joined the P.O.U.M. militia to fight against the Fascists. In this now justly famous account of his experience, he describes both the bleak and the comic aspects of trench warfare on the Aragon front, the Barcelona uprising in May 1937, his nearly fatal wounding just two weeks later, and his escape from Barcelona into France after the P.O.U.M. was suppressed. As important as the story of the war itself is Orwell's analysis of why the Communist Party sabotaged the workers' revolution and branded the P.O.U.M. as Trotskyist, which provides an essential key to understanding the outcome of the war and an ironic sidelight on international Communism. It was during this period in Spain that Orwell learned for himself the nature of totalitarianism in practice, an education that laid the groundwork for his great books Animal Farm and 1984.

©1980 The Estate of the Late Sonia Brownell Orwell (P)1992 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[A] triumph.... The audio presentation adds a new dimension to a text which is required reading for any student of the Spanish Civil War." (AudioFile)

Welles' Spanish War tales read by FD

Frederick Davidson's reading of Orson Welles' limited war experience during Spanish Civil War. Love Davidson reading just about anything. Welles gives political information about the war from a pre-WWII perspective.

A great read for our polarized reality

There’s an old saying that history repeats itself and that particular statement seems to ring true today as we find ourselves in a hopelessly polarized time in which we continue to repeat mistakes of the past. Some of the content in this particular book is scary to consider, but still has plenty of relevancy. The Spanish civil war was so complicated because of polarization into political factions but despite Orwell’s clear biases he still manages to give a truthful and often very descriptive view of his experiences during the Spanish civil war in which the fascists lead by Franco ultimately won through a mix of aid from other fascist powers and the Republican army purging anti signs of resistance in the form of anarchists and syndicalists.

His inspiration for 1984

you can see where he got all the anti-stalinism from.
His storytelling really puts you IN Catalonia, at the front.

What a treat

Perfect read for these all too interesting times. Nothing much has changed. Orwell is a delightful writer even when his subject is not.

First hand account

Interesting first hand account of authors experience of the spanish civil war. Insights and observations of republican divisions particularly interesting as they proved so costly. Would have liked an historical epilogue for context

Brilliant!

Four pooints why the revolution failed:

1. Communism sabotaged the labor revolution.
2. Global Capitalism was the reason for the sntsabotage.
3. Lack of Unity by labor (too many factions)
4. Lack of Communication (ex. reporters not reporting, sabotage of intel)

Good book, boring performance

Somehow the reader made a story about war exhausting to listen to. I’ve read the actual book, I’d recommend it over this audiobook

Terrific Account of the Spanish Civil War

One of the best written things I have ever read/listened to. Irony, facts, humor and tragedy.

A must read

Not just a discussion of Orwell’s experience fighting on the front lines. This book also delves into the political back and forth between the many factions that made up the Spanish government forces. Apparently, fake news propaganda existed back in Orwells time.

Makes you wonder what he would say about today’s media and party politics. A fascinating book in all respects.

Orwells details are amazing. Such great insight

this book was great. love how his views change as the war goes on. explains so much that I had no idea about behind the front lines. you can see animal farm was inspired by his time is spain.