The book Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell is a both a memoir and a political commentary on the Spanish Civil War. The Macmillan Collector’s Library edition is a text straight from the author, giving you access to his first-hand experience as an international who joined up with a communist group in Catalonia.
Chapter 1: The author introduces himself and his experience in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War. He recounts his time in the militia, as he finds himself in the middle of a conflict he in part does not understand. This chapter serves as a frame for the rest of the book, and it paints a vivid image of the chaotic nature of the civil war, such as being woken up by militia workers with red flags “swooping down” from the window.
Chapter 2: The author goes into further detail about his experience among the militia, from living in meager conditions to the dangers of battle. He also describes the political climate he’s entering, with all the whispers of war and betrayal among the militia. Orwell also comments on the political clout of communists and anarchists, noting that the organizations he’s enlisted with are all fiercely devoted to their cause. One such example of this fanaticism is a militia Communist who refuses to accept the news that his wife was having an affair.
Chapter 3: Orwell introduces his friend Kopp, a Russian anarchist and veteran of the trenches. For the first time, he details his first-hand observations of war, taking note of the fear of those in the trenches yet contrasting it with the gallows humor of some. He also mentions the effects of abandoned farms, villages, and ruined farms on the landscape.
Chapter 4: Orwell recounts in detail his three-month stint with the POUM volunteers in the Aragon Front. He discusses how the many political organizations on the side of the Republican army lead to some confusion among the volunteers as to who they were fighting for. He also describes in detail the tremendous losses the volunteers endured in the battle, such as the sniper shootings that killed his friend although he himself managed to dodge the bullets.
Chapter 5: Orwell goes on to chronicle his time in the hospital, as his friend Kopp is wounded and later dies. He also reflects on the political strife among the Republican forces, with the Communists fighting to seize control of the different fronts. Some of the commanders Orwell speaks with even suggest a potential alliance with the Fascists, as the Communists are seen as a more pressing threat.
Chapter 6: Orwell returns to Barcelona and shares with the reader his experience at a workers’ demonstration. He is also taken aback by the tension and paranoia in the city, where people were arrested for the slightest indication of dissent against the Communist cause. He reflects on the absurdity of the situation, noting how the same people who battled against Fascists in the trenches were now themselves in danger of being arrested.
Chapter 7: Orwell outlines his comrades’ attempt to flee the intensifying conflict in Barcelona. He talks of the tight control of the police and soldiers, and the danger it posed to the dissidents among the Republican and anarchist groups. Here, Orwell comes to startling conclusion in the face of such events -- that there really was no hope left for the anarchists and their cause.
Chapter 8: Orwell leaves the Spanish Civil War and shares his thought on the conflict. He believes that the foreigners who had taken sides in the Spanish Civil War really had little idea of the true nature of the conflict, and the effects it had scars people in the long run. He calls for solidarity between all ideologies and sympathy for those fighting oppressive forces.
