Wales and the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39: The Dragon's Dearest Cause

This work addresses the persistent resonance of the Spanish Civil War in Welsh culture. Analyzing the Welsh people's ideological, political, and culture experience with the war, this study reevaluates previously acknowledged truths about the relationship between Wales and Republican Spain, particularly the widely received notion that Welsh support of the war was based primarily on feelings of working class solidarity. In addition, a significant proportion of the book is devoted to the volunteers of the Welsh International Brigades, using recently discovered memoirs, diaries, and archival material to arrive at a rich portrait of Welsh political culture of the 1930s. 0708318177......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Preface and Acknowledgements......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 16 1 Prologue: Castles in Wales......Page 18 2 Bible and Babel: Rural and Industrial Wales......Page 32 3 Armadas and Alcázars: Urban and Maritime Wales......Page 63 4 The Academy: Education and the Press......Page 94 5 The Miners: Little Moscows, Big Moscow......Page 112 6 The Word was God: Writers and Heretics......Page 128 7 Volunteers in Spain I: Soldiers and Heroes......Page 143 8 Volunteers in Spain II: Victims......Page 162 9 Halls of Fame: Making (and Faking) History......Page 175 10 Epilogue: The Dragon's Cause Today......Page 186 Table A. Welsh Companies and Ships Trading with the Republic, 1936–1939......Page 197 Table B. Welsh Coal Exports to the Spanish Republic, 1938......Page 198 Table C. International Brigade Volunteers in Spain......Page 200 Notes......Page 206 Bibliography......Page 252 B......Page 261 C......Page 262 F......Page 263 H......Page 264 L......Page 265 M......Page 266 P......Page 267 S......Page 268 W......Page 269 Z......Page 270 Photo section......Page 271 1. Prologue : Castles In Wales -- 2. Bible And Babel : Rural And Industrial Wales -- 3. Armadas And Alcazars : Urban And Maritime Wales -- 4. The Academy : Education And The Press -- 5. The Miners : Little Moscows, Big Moscow -- 6. The Word Was God : Writers And Heretics -- 7. Volunteers In Spain I : Soldiers And Heroes -- 8. Volunteers In Spain Ii : Victims -- 9. Halls Of Fame : Making (and Faking) History -- 10. Epilogue : The Dragon's Cause Today -- Table A. Welsh Companies And Ships Trading With The Republic, 1936-1939 -- Table B. Welsh Coal Exports To The Spanish Republic, 1938 -- Table C. International Brigade Volunteers In Spain. Robert Stradling. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-243) And Index. A study of the Welsh people's experience - ideological, political and cultural - of the Spanish Civil War, dealing not only with the war years (1936-39), but also the background and aftermath. It makes significant use of archival material and the testimony of International Brigade volunteers.