Homage to Catalonia

Paperback, 272 pages

English language

Published Jan. 1, 1938 by Penguin.

ISBN:
978-0-14-118305-3
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OCLC Number:
570959

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5 stars (2 reviews)

'Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic Socialism as I understand it'. Thus wrote Orwell following his experiences as a militiaman in the Spanish Civil War, chronicled in Homage to Catalonia. Here he brings to bear all the force of his humanity, passion and clarity, describing with bitter intensity the bright hopes and cynical betrayals of that chaotic episode: the revolutionary euphoria of Barcelona, the courage of ordinary Spanish men and women he fought alongside, the terror and confusion of the front, his near-fatal bullet wound and the vicious treachery of his supposed allies.

Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), better known by his pen-name, George Orwell, was born in India, where his father worked for the Civil Service. An author and journalist, Orwell was one of the most prominent and influential figures in twentieth-century literature. His …

66 editions

reviewed Mein Katalonien by George Orwell (Diogenes-Taschenbuch)

Wie Kommunismus den Klassenkampf unterdrückte

4 stars

George Orwell schildert recht ausführlich, wie langweilig oder mörderisch sein Kampf an der Front im Spanischen Bürgerkrieg 1936/1937 war, obwohl er ursprünglich als Zeitungsreporter nach Spanien gekommen war. Interessanter finde ich aber die politische Dimension, wo auf der einen Seite die Faschisten stehen und auf der anderen ein Bündnis aus Anarchisten, Gewerkschaftssozialisten und totalitären Kommunisten. Von letzteren wird später im Buch noch genauer die Rede sein und wie sie nicht nur die Revolution in Spanien verhinderten, sondern auch Andersdenkende jagten und einsperrten. Auch wenn Orwell in seinen Schilderungen von der Front oft einen eher kriegsverherrlichenden Ton anschlägt, so sind doch die politischen Folgen im Hintergrund umso interessanter und auch die Art und Weise, wie er selbst kurz vor knapp noch einmal das Land verlassen konnte.

notes on 'Homage to Catalonia'

5 stars

stunning writing that gives a feeling of both trench warfare and street conflict

the book captures the joys of liberation - and how easily they can be lost

it's fascinating to see how some of Orwell's experiences and observations here come up again in '1984': a fear of rats, poor-quality tobacco falling out of cigarettes, newspapers rewriting history, worries of being informed on, and the horrors of being confined as a political prisoner

Orwell's personal bravery and dedication to goodness are also evident from this book

Subjects

  • Spain
  • Orwell, George, 1903-1950
  • Politics and government
  • Spain -- Catalonia
  • Travel
  • Authors, English
  • Soldiers
  • Communism