- Hardcover: 208 pages
- Publisher: Cassell; First Edition edition (1957)
- Language English
- ASIN: B0000CJNTO
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,501,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Startling but well-written account of an Englishman who decided to fight against the left in Spain's civil war. Seeking adventure but going also with some political conviction, Peter Kemp left UK before he was 21 to join Franco's forces in November 1936. Compared to many international brigaders who met mistrust, Kemp was generally received with open arms. First, a member of the Carlist requetes where, assisted by a few OTC certificates, he swiftly became a lieutenant; he then decided to switch to the tougher but more elite Spanish Foreign Legion as one of about three or four British officers. Thereon, he recounts a vivid tale of life in Franco's forces, culminating in several battles and engagements, ultimately being wounded.
The value of the book is a non-leftist perspective. He has many interesting things to say, particularly about the bombing of Guernica, which claims Kemp, since the Republicans had bombed Toledo in July 1936, was not the first opening bombing of a town, as well as the fact that the Republicans set fire to Guernica, as they had in Irun. He freely admits that the Nationalists were ridiculously naive in their propaganda compared to the more sophisticated and well-supported Republic. Also an interesting point of view: the involvement of the International Brigades only prolonged a war that Spaniards could have settled much more quickly alone. Food for thought and a bit of a tonic to the usual fairy tale of 'how the left were splendid fellows and everyone else was the devil incarnate'. At least we can salvage a bit of historical objectivity instead of being spoon-fed Hemingway, Orwell, Lee, Spender, Koestler, Malraux, Saint-Exupery, et al.
The biggest problem is finding a copy. Either go to a good library or make do with Kemp's autobiography, 'Thorns Of Memory', the first part of which is pretty much the same text, a bit shortened. Look out also for Frank Thomas' 'Brother Against Brother'.
The value of the book is a non-leftist perspective. He has many interesting things to say, particularly about the bombing of Guernica, which claims Kemp, since the Republicans had bombed Toledo in July 1936, was not the first opening bombing of a town, as well as the fact that the Republicans set fire to Guernica, as they had in Irun. He freely admits that the Nationalists were ridiculously naive in their propaganda compared to the more sophisticated and well-supported Republic. Also an interesting point of view: the involvement of the International Brigades only prolonged a war that Spaniards could have settled much more quickly alone. Food for thought and a bit of a tonic to the usual fairy tale of 'how the left were splendid fellows and everyone else was the devil incarnate'. At least we can salvage a bit of historical objectivity instead of being spoon-fed Hemingway, Orwell, Lee, Spender, Koestler, Malraux, Saint-Exupery, et al.
The biggest problem is finding a copy. Either go to a good library or make do with Kemp's autobiography, 'Thorns Of Memory', the first part of which is pretty much the same text, a bit shortened. Look out also for Frank Thomas' 'Brother Against Brother'.
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