"Every serious work that I have written from 1936 onwards has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and in favor of democratic socialism as I understand it."
- George Orwell

In 1936, George Orwell joined the militia of a left-wing Spanish organization, combining his desire to fight against fascism with his intention to document the events of the war. He fought for several months before internal conflicts among various leftist groups brought him face to face with former allies and ultimately forced him to leave the country.
The author describes, with almost painful intensity, the bright hopes and cynical betrayals of that chaotic episode in Spain's history. The revolutionary euphoria of Barcelona, the courage of ordinary Spaniards alongside whom he fought, the terror and confusion of the front, his near-fatal injury, and the painful betrayal by his supposed allies. Orwell's response is as captivating as it is enlightening. With a cool gaze and precision, he sheds light on the nightly skirmishes of the front, the political issues, and the utter futility of war.