Homage to Catalonia
by George Orwell · first published 1938
61% recommend38% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
Orwell's first-hand account of fighting in the Spanish Civil War, showing how Soviet-dominated factions crushed the anarchists and POUM; valued for revealing his political thinking behind 1984 and Animal Farm.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
[Homage to Catalonia][1] is [George Orwell][2]'s account of his experiences fighting in the 'Spanish Civil War'. Alongside many British workers, trades unionists, and socialists keen to help the Spanish defend their Republic from General Franco's Fascist forces. Orwell joined the [POUM][3] Militia in the Catalan region of Spain, was injured in the fighting and invalided back to England. After leaving the front line preparatory to leaving Spain, Orwell saw for himself the machinations of the Communist Party leading to the POUM being declared 'Enemies of the People' along with its destruction. W
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George Orwell’s memoir about his time in Spain during the war (“An Homage to Catalonia”) is a great book. He has a wonderful mind for seeing the politics behind all of the confusion and propaganda from all the factions that formed after the revolution. I have thought about this a lot…
on “Looking Back on the Spanish War (1942)” ↗For anyone interested, George Orwell's account of his experiences during the civil war, "Homage to Catalonia" is a good english language read on the subject. Not an expert, but it seems pretty impartial. And its Orwell so its easy to read.
on “Anarchists in the Spanish Civil War (2002)” ↗"No book, however good, can survive a hostile reading." Is that really true? The first Orwell book I read (Homage to Catalonia) was required for a history class -- a class that had previously assigned some truly awful literature. So I was pessimistic and I read it grudgingly at first. But halfway through the book, I realized…
on “Orson Scott Card's Amazon Review of Ender's Game” ↗…executive to amuse themselves with while there's no wifi on a plane. Second, start building those muscles with the few people who are both challenging and accessible. George Orwell is great for this, read Homage to Catalonia and get a collection of his essays. Read a few Beckett plays, try Endgame and scratch your head at that shit. Read some Neil Postman and be like, yeah, he was right about technology. The idea with books…
on “Ask HN: Are books worth it?” ↗…boring when I tried to read it. But it does have some very interesting ideas. My issue with 1984 may have been prior exposure to it's best ideas elsewhere. Orwell is a great writer, highly recommend both "Homage to Catalonia" and "Animal Farm". Complex topics written in an accessible style.
on “Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?” ↗Instead of reading Noam Chomsky's propaganda written from great distance (knowing that Chomsky has been an apologist for e.g. the Khmer Rouge), just read Orwell's Homage to Catalonia where he relates direct experience. Or any other primary source.
on “Who Needs a Boss?” ↗…might be simply that you think democratic socialism and communism are the same thing, in which case it might be very helpful for you to read some of Orwell's political essays [2] and other non-fiction. 'Homage to Catalonia' is wonderful. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell#Political_views [2] http://georgeorwellnovels.com/essays/
Agreed. 1984 gets all the attention and is the first thing anyone thinks when they hear "Orwell" but I think Homage to Catalonia was a much more interesting book and explored political ideas at a much deeper level than 1984. Don't get me wrong, they both have a spot in my top 10, but sadly Homage is relatively unheard of in comparison…
on “George Orwell in Spain” ↗…all times, yet the government operated in total secrecy. What we're discussing here is a situation in reverse. And on that note, if you have not read it, no matter your politics, I cannot recommend "Homage To Catalonia" enough. Orwell was truly one of the most gifted writers of the 20th century.
on “WikiLeaks Wants To Spill Your Corporate Secrets” ↗White Teeth, Zadie Smith Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates, Tom Robbins Homage to Catalonia, George Orwell Catch 22, Joseph Heller Timequake; Mother Night, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Seven Pillars of Wisdom, TE Lawrence The Histories, Tacitus The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger (caveat, it was most…
on “Ask: Read a book that changed your life? Title?” ↗…Both sides sucked. Orwell went to fight for the Republicans, but came back completely disillusioned because the Republicans were totally dominated by the Soviet Union. He writes about his experiences in Homage to Catalonia, which I strongly recommend. The Nationalists were not good people either, but Spain would have been much worse off if the Republicans won and turned it into a Soviet satellite.
on “East Germany thrived on snitching lovers, fickle friends and envious schoolkids” ↗https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Catalonia It was quickly crushed by all the other global powers together, the Soviet Union, the West, and the Franco Nationalists with the Nazi's. But while it existed, it was very successful. Read Orwell's "Homage to Catalonia" to get an impression of it.
on “Why real-world governments don’t have the consent of the governed” ↗…ripped from Russian history, as it was intended to be a critique of Stalinism. My taste for Orwell's two most read, Animal Farm and 1984 was especially dulled after I read his non-fiction masterpiece Homage To Catalonia which is a harrowing lesson in realpolitik and the socialist infighting of the 1930's. http://www.george-orwell.org/Homage_to_Catalonia/
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗…at an arm's distance right now. I read Animal Farm when I was 12 and 1984 a few years later. And I've re-read them a few times since. In college, I read Down and Out. Traveling through Europe I read Homage to Catalonia. Orwell is my favorite writer and 1984 is my favorite book.
on “I say, damn it, where are the beds? New books on Orwell” ↗There are different examples of radical socialist societies in history, too bad all of them were oppressed by all too powerful neighbours. If you like Orwell, you might like reading "Homage to Catalonia", his experience fighting for Republican Spain in the Civil War. The CNT-FAI supported a radical socialist society, in particular, an anarcho-syndicalist one. Another example is the Free Territory of…
on “Decline of Global Extreme Poverty Continues but Has Slowed” ↗