The Spanish Labyrinth

The Spanish Labyrinth (full title: The Spanish Labyrinth: An Account of the Social and Political Background of the Spanish Civil War) by Gerald Brenan, is an account of Spain's social, economic and political history as a background to the Spanish Civil War.

The Spanish Labyrinth

First edition
Author	Gerald Brenan
Language	English
Subject	History
Published	1943
Media type	Print

First published in 1943, it has stayed in print, with repeated reissues. Together with works by noted Hispanists such as Paul Preston, Raymond Carr, Burnett Bolloten, and Hugh Thomas, The Spanish Labyrinth is deemed to be essential background reading for studies of Spain and its history.[1]

The Spanish Labyrinth was banned by the government of Francisco Franco because its criticism of his regime.[2] Spanish-language translations of The Spanish Labyrinth were secretly smuggled into the country by anti-Franco émigrés, and the book became popular among Spanish dissidents. [3] After Franco's death, the ban was lifted and the book was well-received by Spanish historians.[2]

The 1993 edition has an extensive foreword by Raymond Carr, stating that the book was acclaimed “as one of the most brilliant political and social studies in many years” by the Chicago Sunday Tribune, and “the essence of Spain” by the Manchester Guardian. Carr himself called the book “a revelation to my generation,” adding, “What is remarkable about Brenan’s account of the Second Republic of 1931-6” is the fairness that has enabled it to stand the test of time… his account stands out as surprisingly impartial.”[4]