Books

[6], 313pp, [1]. Original cloth in DJ. Reverse of DJ with old paper reinforcing to edges and spine, tear to head of spine, catching the word 'Homage', now closed with Japanese tissue paper, one or two other closed tears, small amount of loss to head of lower panel, some very minor chips to edges, spine browned, lower panel lightly browned, price-clipped. Some browning to endpapers, text lightly browned but clean. Old bookseller's ticket to foot of front pastedown. DJ illustrated by 'K'. Now housed in a morocco backed drop back box by Temple Bookbinders, with raised bands and the spine in six panels, with the title to second panel, the author to fourth, and the date to foot. Orwell's experience of the Spanish Civil War, where he enlisted in the POUM militia, and was shot in the throat. Gollancz declined to publish the work, according to Orwell because Gollancz was "part of the communist-racket, and as soon as he heard I had been associated with the POUM and Anarchists and had seen the inside of the May riots in Barcelona, he said he did not think he would be able to publish my book, though not a word of it was written yet" (Fenwick, page 63). Fenwick A6a Size: 8vo.

"Homage to Catalonia" by George Orwell is a memoir that recounts Orwell's personal experiences and observations during the Spanish Civil War, specifically his time fighting on the side of the Republicans against General Francisco Franco's Nationalists. Arriving in Barcelona in 1936, Orwell eagerly joins the POUM (Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista), a Trotskyist militia group, to fight against the fascist uprising. He witnesses a society undergoing revolutionary transformation, with workers taking control of factories and social order temporarily disrupted. Inspired by the fervor for social justice and the hope for a better future, Orwell embraces the cause. However, as the civil war progresses, Orwell becomes disillusioned by the infighting among the various factions of the left-wing Republicans. He describes the tensions and conflicts between the POUM, other leftist groups, and the Soviet-backed Communists. Orwell becomes deeply critical of the Communist Party, which sought to suppress rival leftist factions, including the POUM, branding them as "fascist." Orwell's disillusionment is further fueled by his personal experiences during the May Days of 1937, when street fighting erupted in Barcelona between various leftist groups. The government, led by the Communist Party, cracked down on anarchist and other revolutionary elements, resulting in a loss of faith in the revolution's initial ideals. Throughout "Homage to Catalonia," Orwell reflects on the chaotic and complicated political landscape, the propaganda, the heroism of the common people, and the corruption within revolutionary ranks. He details the harsh realities of war, the privations faced by the soldiers, and the disheartening betrayal of the revolution's original goals by political maneuvering. Orwell's memoir is a powerful testament to the struggle against fascism, the complexities of ideological conflicts, and the disillusionment that comes with the realities of war and political infighting. "Homage to Catalonia" remains a compelling account of Orwell's personal journey, his ideological awakening, and his condemnation of the betrayal of revolutionary ideals in the face of political expediency.