The CNT in the Spanish Revolution: Volume 1 (1) (Cnt in the Spanish Revolution, 1)

A careful chronicle of political change and hope in 1930s Spain, this staggering work examines how the Confederacin Nacional del Trabajo (CNT), rose up against the oppressive structures of Spanish society. Documenting a history of revolution that failed at the hands of its enemies on both the reformist left and reactionary right, this intelligent account covers all areas of the anarchist experiencefrom the spontaneous militias and the revolutionary collectives to the moral dilemmas occasioned by the clash of revolutionary ideals and the stark reality of the war effort. Passionately written and carefully indexed, this edition is the only in-depth English-language text available and converts the work into a usable tool for historians and anarchists alike. Volume 1 focuses on the initial stages of the Spanish Revolution as the CNT gathered strength, built an anarchist civilian and military movement, and confronted Franco's fascist army. Additionally, "The History of a History" by editor Chris Ealham traces the writing, publication, and various turns Peirats' book took to reach this new English-language text. Cover 1 Title Page 2 Copyright 3 Dedication 4 Editorial 6 Table of Contents 8 Glossary of organisations 9 The history of a history 12 Introduction 28 1. From the Bellas Artes Congress to the Primo de Rivera dictatorship 34 2. From the military Directory to the Second Republic 44 3. The Republic of Casas Viejas 58 4. From the November elections to the October Revolution 82 5. 6 October 1934 in Asturias and in Catalonia 99 6. The end of the ‘black biennium’ and the Popular Front triumphant 110 7. From the Zaragoza Congress to 19 July 1936 120 8. Spain in flames 143 9. The revolutionary achievement 160 10. The dilemma of revolution and war 183 11. The CNT in the government of Catalonia 195 12. The CNT in the government of the Republic 209 13. Politics and revolution 225 14. Consequences of the Confederation’s collaboration 270 15. The collectivisations 291 A chronology of José Peirats’s major writings 370 Notes 374 Index 413 About PM Press 426 Summary:A careful chronicle of political change and hope in 1930s Spain, this staggering work examines how the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT), rose up against the oppressive structures of Spanish society. Documenting a history of revolution that failed at the hands of its enemies on both the reformist left and reactionary right, this intelligent account covers all areas of the anarchist experience, from the spontaneous militias and the revolutionary collectives to the moral dilemmas occasioned by the clash of revolutionary ideals and the stark reality of the war effort. Passionately written and carefully indexed, this edition is the only in-depth English-language text available and converts the work into a usable tool for historians and anarchists alike Volume I contains Chapters 1 to 15 of Peirats' study: from the Bellas Artes Congress (1911) to the agrarian and industrial collectivisations (October 1936) with detailed indexes, superb introductions and detailed notes by the editor, Chris Ealham.