Succinct and elegant, this is the classic depiction of the bloody, catastrophic, "brother against brother" war that brought the fascist Franco regime to power. It brilliantly illuminates the conflict's causes and drama: the class and regional disparities in Spanish society; the pitiful weaknesses of the political parties battling Franco; and the way Spain became a battleground of international forces. ..".a superlative command of a wide range of sources, economy of style...a sharp eye for obscure but significant detail, an awareness of cultural nuance, a firsthand acquaintance with the country and its people."--New Statesman.