The Coming of the Spanish Civil War Paul Preston is an authoritative study book on the Spanish Civil War. This work provides a clear analysis of the social and economic causes of the conflicts that led to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
Preston outlines the background of Spanish society, marked by great inequality between farm laborers and landowners, and by the contradictions between industrialists and workers. He shows how attempts by the Republican-Socialist coalition to carry out reforms were thwarted by right-wing parties, which ultimately led to armed conflict. The author draws on extensive sources, including archives and personal documents from those involved.
This Routledge Classics edition of The Coming of the Spanish Civil War includes a new preface in which Preston reflects on the origins of his research into the Spanish Civil War. The book remains an indispensable reference work for anyone who wants to understand the complex history of the Spanish Civil War.