Muchas Gracias Richard Baxell !!

On April 30 I was very fortunate to have Richard Baxell in the bookshop, presenting his book "Unlikely Warriors", about the British and Irish volunteers in the Spanish Civil War. Richard is an acknowledged academic and expert on this part of Spain's history, and his talk was universally described by those who attended as brilliant. From a personal view I was captivated by his knowledge of the volunteers' background at the time. It turns out that most volunteers were not the writers and journalists we assume, but people from working class backgrounds in Glasgow, Liverpool, Ireland and Wales, often with poor diet and health yet with a hunger not just to oppose fascism but also to educate themselves.

Perhaps I should say I was doubly fortunate to have hosted this event, as the book itself is a gem. I won't go into a full book review here - I'm certain I could not do it justice - but I will link to an excellent review by the writer and Spanish Civil War nerd (in her words) Caroline Angus Baker. Caroline summarises the book as follows:

"Baxell has created a book where those new to the subject can learn and understand, but at the same time, give more knowledgeable readers a more personal and vulnerable perspective to the battles. Many books on the war can read as stiff or academic, but Baxell has created a marvellous account which humanises but does not romanticise the role of international volunteers in a complex war. The book breaks down the struggles in Spain, to give a realistic account of what life was like for those who sacrificed for a cause which did not succeed in victory. Unlikely Warriors is a must-read for anyone interested in Spain and its recent history."

We do have other events coming up in the near future, for example "An Evening with Guillem Balague" on May 12 (the venue is in the Clover House pub, calle Almansa, in north Madrid), but if I were to meet with the proverbial bus tomorrow, I can honestly say that the Richard Baxell book presentation was the highlight of my year (well decade). Many thanks, Richard Baxell!