A moving anthology of poetry, this collection is devoted to pieces written by International Brigade volunteers who fought against the rise of fascism during the Spanish Civil War. Conveying the idealism and anguish felt by that extraordinary group of men and women—drawn from all social classes and all parts of Britain and Ireland—who risked their lives to defend democracy, the poems in this collection range from jaunty ballads penned in the trenches to explicit and insightful works of war poetry. Extensive notes and historical background on the poems and poets couple with verse from both famous poets—including John Cornford, Laurie Lee, and Sylvia Townsend Warner—and ordinary people trying to make sense of the history in which they were participating.