The Spanish Labyrinth: An Account
of the Social and Political
Background of the Spanish Civil War
(Canto) by Gerald Brenan
An Incisive Assessment Of An Important But Forgotten Historical Episode
Gerald Brenans The Spanish Labyrinth has become the classic account of
the background to the Spanish Civil War. Written during and immediately
after the Civil War, the book has all the vividness of the authors
experience. It represents a struggle to see the issues in Spanish politics
objectively, whilst bearing witness to the deep involvement which is the
only possible source of much of this richly detailed account. As a literary
figure on the fringe of the Bloomsbury group, Gerald Brenan lends to this
narrative an engaging personal style that has become familiar to many
thousands of readers over the decades since it was first published.

Personal Review: The Spanish Labyrinth: An Account of the
Social and Political Background of the Spanish Civil War (Canto)
by Gerald Brenan
Gerald Brenan's THE SPANISH LABYRINTH is a masterful account of the
mosaic of the history and immediate events leading to the Spanish Civil
War (1936-1939). Brenan effectively deals with the complexities of
Spanish political history from the end of the Napoleonic Wars (c.
1799-1815)to the start of the Spanish Civil War. Brenan is clear that the
Spanish Civil War was the culmination of events of the early 19th century
to 1936. In other words, he does not provide a "quick fix" to superficially
explain these events. Another asset of this book is the fact that Brenan
carefully examines the Spanish Civil War based on a precise review of
Spanish Civil War. Brenan dismisses the notion that too many lazy
historians use in describing the Spanish Civil War as one between
righteous "Democracy" and wicked "Fascism."
Brenan is one of the few historians who gives the reader an explanation of
how geogrpahy and climate affected Spain's political history. Since the
17th century, Spain was geographically and culturally isolated from the rest
of Europe. Historically, Spain was forgotten by the rest of Europe. Brenan
also gives the reader a geography of Spain's topography and climate
regions. Parts of Spain were mountainous while other areas were flat
plains. Some areas of Spain get adequet rainfall while other areas are
semiarid at best. This geography lesson is important in understanding the
reasons for Spain's political instability. Those Spanish farmers or peasants
who lived in areas that were semiarid and had poor land were often those
Spaniards who were more rebellious against the old monarchy and
landlords. On the other hand, those Spanish farmers who lived in areas
with decent rainfall and adequet rainfall, were less likely to rebel and were
more conservative.
Brenan's assessment of the "Spanish character" is interesting. Brenan
describes the Spanish peasants as proud, charitible, enthusiastic,
excitable, etc. This was probably true of almost all Spaniards regardless of
class. These characteritics were assests and liabilities. The urge to rebel
against perceived injustice is easier to explain. On the other hand, these
characteristics were liabilities that often prevented political unity and a
clear program. As Brenan explains, these characteristics and divisions
were common for both the Spanish "Left" and Spanish "Right." Brenan
explains that there were often instances whereby the Spanish "Leftists"
and "Rightists" switched sides because of temporary common interests.
Brenan also gives the reader a "scorecard" regarding the different political
parties. He describes each party and leader as well as their political
program. These parties included the Monarchists, the Liberals, the
Catholic parties, the Military, the Socialists, the Anarchists, the Anarcho-
Syndicalists, the Carlists, ect. Readers may be interested in knowing the
within these political parties there were bitter political divisions. These

internal divisions were often just as bitter or more so than the animosity
shown toward opposing political parties. This helps explain the political
instability from the early 19th century to 1936. These political divisions
also inform the reader that the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 did
not "just happen." There were previous rebellions, civil wars, and political
unrest long before 1936. Brenan's political sympathies were probably with
the Spanish "Leftists," but he is clear about their political blunders and
excessive violence. In other words, Brenan does not ignore the excesses
of the political violence of either side during the 19th and 20th centuries
which other bland historians do without doing any serious research.
Brenan's last chapter which deals with the start of the Spanish Civil War is
good. He explains that one of the political liabilities of the "Left" was their
hostility toward the Catholic Church which was excessive and alienated a
large segment of Spaniards. Brenan argues that a reasonable
reconciliation could have helped the Spanish "Left" and the Spanish
Republic against the Franco's Phlangists. Brenan also gives a good
account of how Soviet Stalinist agents helped as well as hindered the
Spanish "Left." The Republic survived as long as it did due to Soviet arms.
Yet, the Soviet disciplined bureaucratic mind did not fit well with the
Spaniards' independence of spirit and pride. Therefore, the Soviet
sympathizers and agents did not cooperate with some of the Spanish
"Leftists" and withheld arms. This was expecailly true in regard to the
Communists antipathy toward the Spanish Anarchists who fought so well
early in the Spanish Civil War. Stalin was fearful that a successful
Anarchist movement would antagonize the Western Europeans against the
Soviets. One could argue that Soviet diplomatic interests far outweighed
any independent revolutionary ideals or Spanish revolutionary goals.
Brenan's THE SPANISH LABYRINTH should be read along with George
Orwell's HOMAGE TO CATALONIA and Franz Borkenaus's THE
SPANISH COCKPIT. These books explain the complexities and the
importance of the Spanish Civil War. These books also undermine the
superficial historical accounts which display many historians' ignorance
and intellectual laziness. One should note that both Brenan and Orwell
had a high regard of the Spaniards' character and courage. The fact that
Franco's Phalangists won the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939
may have been due to the political divisions of the Spanish Republic and
the parties who were supporting this government more than Franco's
political ability. Brenan's book is well worth reading.
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