Beach Haven

Bibliography
Graham, R. (1984). Spain: A Nation Comes of Age. New York: St. Martin's Press.

​Review by Michael Beach
 
For me as a reader, this book is close to my own experience. In 1982 and 1983 I lived in southern Spain serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I just a 19-year-old, pretty much oblivious to the world of politics and economics. In particular, before being called to Spain I really had even less knowledge as events outside the United States and my own experience were limited to what I saw on the news. Spain was not in the US media at the time, at least not to my memory.

Robert Graham published this book in 1984, so just after I left the country. I really was not all that aware of what was going on with in the country or its history, even when I was there. My focus was on sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, many years later I pay much more attention to the happenings in the world. I read some on the Spanish civil war and the history of Franco. I experienced the shift in government towards a more socialist philosophy after decades of fascist dictatorship. I wish now that then I had known more about it.

Graham discusses the transition of power through several tumultuous administrations. There was at least one coup attempt. The author looks at major influences in Spain in the post-Franco transitive period. He looks at the changes in wealth distribution, the influence of banks, the church, and the various factions within the military. Graham also looks at the Spanish media and its affect on public opinion. Finally, he discusses democracy as it evolved within Spain.

Many of the influences discussed by Robert Graham are echoed in other emerging democracies. Throughout the Franco period, Spain was in some ways considered a backward society within a more enlightened Europe. At the time of Graham’s writing its economy had gone through several booms and busts, but was strongly on the mend. It was among the fastest growing economies within Europe. History has shown Spain to have suffered from some of the pangs of a growing set of social benefits. During COVID most of Europe has had similar issues, but Spain, Italy and Greece were particularly in the news as countries with a growing dependency on EU funds.
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I appreciate the insights Robert Graham shares in this book. Anyone interested in the country and how international affairs affect and are affected by Spain should consider the read.

Payne, Stanley G., and Jesus Palacios. 2014. Franco: A Personal and Political Biography. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press.

Francisco Franco rose to power just prior to World War II. He became a de facto dictator in Spain until his death in 1975. His rule was nationalist, and took on the trappings of Hitler’s Nazi party, but instead of exterminating Jews, Spain under Franco protected them. Spain did not become engaged in Hitler’s European war at any scale. Hitler sent little help to Spain, and Spain committed few troops to Hitler’s campaigns. In a way, the two nationalist governments kept out of each other’s way.
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Franco came up through the military ranks quicker than his peers. When political strife that led to the Spanish civil war intensified, his extended family were on both sides. His brother was a famous military pilot but became anti-regal or pro-socialist during the civil war. Francisco Franco remained loyal to the traditional government, then the republican leadership until it began to crumble just before the civil war began.

As the title implies, there is much of the public biographical history shared by the authors. In addition, they include many details documented by various Franco family members and associates. At times, he drives history. At other times he is driven by the greater society and events surrounding him. Like many national leaders, his ideas and actions are both enigmatic, and change over time. 

KILLING LINCOLN
By Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
St. Martin’s Griffin, 2011, 324 pages
Review by Michael Beach
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This is one in a series of similar books by this author duo. Each book looks at the assassination, or attempted assassination, of some famous person. The book is written as a narrative story, but pulls on the works of many historians. The first part of the book concentrates on the ending battles and scenes of the American Civil War. Interactions of generals and troops north and south, as well as Lincoln’s actions shed light on an important part of our history. John Wilks Booth and his fellow conspirators are addressed only lightly in the first half of the chapters. When they are spoken of the depictions at times relate to the war and its leading figures, other times their lives seem to have little to do with larger historical events.
 
The second part of the book shifts and is almost the opposite of the fist. The authors now focus now shines brightly mostly on the conspiracy and its participants. Government and military leaders, including Lincoln, are still mentioned, but more from how their actions are noted and interpreted by the assassination ring.
 
Like many concentrated histories, many lesser-known characters are brought to light. It seems surprising to hear some of the important roles played by people you never learn about in formal history classes growing up. These stories make the history less sterile, more human, and more believable. This certainly was a sad chapter in human history, not just because of the presidential murder, but also to see how the war effected the psyche of Americans on both sides. All involved saw their deeds as necessary evils, but some were really evil. Personal motivation is at the heart of what makes one willing to sacrifice, as opposed to those who use the same language in their willingness to sacrifice others for personal benefit.
 
I don’t know how much of this book is accurate. It seems as likely true as any other history I’ve read. My personal feelings on history, or even documented contemporary events, is that they are all colored by the original sources. Original sources are also colored by those who create them. My guess is this book represents a reasonable proximity to what actually happened. It says a lot about both the highest and lowest of human motivation and choice. 

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