Life and Death of a Spanish Town

Life and Death of a Spanish Town

First edition
Author	Elliot Paul
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Modern History
Publisher	Random House Publishers
Publication date	1937
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Pages	427 (first edition)

Life and Death of a Spanish Town^[1][2] is a book by Elliot Paul based on his actual experiences of living in the town of Santa Eulària des Riu^[3] on the Spanish island of Ibiza, at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. The book was published in 1937 by Random House Inc, of New York.

Format

The book starts with a list of the Men and Women of Santa Eulalia. The story is then presented in two parts. The first is titled 4000 BC to 1936 AD,^[1] with the second part called July 14 to September 15, 1936.^[1] There is also a postscript by Paul, dated 14 June 1937.

Synopsis

The book is set in and around the small town of Santa Eulària des Riu, on Ibiza, where Paul had lived since 1931.^[3] In the first part of the book Elliot Paul describes the town and many of the characters who live and work there. He details their family lives, their hopes, their aspirations, and their politics. He provides details of the people at work and at play, and describes how he becomes part of the community of the town. Paul also writes of other ex-patriates who have made their homes in and around the town. Part two starts with Paul and his family returning to Ibiza, after some time away. The narrative is set in 1936^[1] in the week leading up to the outbreak of hostilities on Ibiza during the Spanish Civil War^[1] and describes the events that eventually lead to Paul, his family and other refugees from the violence, fleeing the island. It tells the story of civil disobedience, collaboration and the violence that split a once-happy community, although the narrative finishes before the tragic turn of events reaches its conclusion. The postscript, written by Paul, dated 14 June 1937, details events following his departure from Ibiza and describes his hopes and fears for his friends on the island and a way of life that he thought would change for ever.

Contents

The Characters

The Fishermen and their Families Captain Juan Mateo Rosa, His Wife Paja, their daughter Maria Edmundo, Mateo’s brother Toniet Pardal, his wife and children Hotel and Café keepers Cosmi, his wife Anna Antonio the cook, Cosmi’s brother Catalina, servant in Cosmi’s hotel Juanito, young proprietor of the Royalty Pedro, the waiter at the Royalty Xumeu Ribas, proprietor of Can Xumeu and custodian of the public telephone, his wife and daughter Francisco Ribas, Xumeu’s son Antonia, proprietress of the fisherman’s bar Julia her daughter Andres, of Can Andres Storekeepers Old Jaun, of the Casa Rosita, his on Mariano, his daughter-in-law Vicenta Toni Ferrer, of Las Delicias Miguel Tur, of the Casa Miguel Guarapiñada, of Tot Barat Mousson, the butcher, his daughter Catalina, his blind aunt Artisans and Mechanics Guillermo, the blacksmith Sindik, the carpenter Jaun Sindik, his son Jaume, the carpenter Primitivo, the electrician Bonéd, Fascist mason Vicente Cruz, younge republican mason Ramon, the bus driver The Priest Old Father Coll Father Torres Father Margall, and assisting on holidays, Father Clapés and the priest who looked like a butcher boy The San Carlos priest and his father

Officials and Guardias Mayor Serra, Republican The Fascist Mayor The Secretario Anfita, the postmaster, his two idiot sons, Pepe and Chicul Sergeant Gomez, of the Guardia Civil Guardias Ferrer, Jiminez and Bravo The Portero Ex-Captain Nicolau, retired army officer Fernando, a schoolmaster Carlos, his cousin, also a schoolmaster Farmers and Landowners Pep Salvador, Cosmi’s brother Pere des Puig José and Catalina, of Can Josepi Francisco Guasch José Ribas, the diving champion Don Ignacio Riquer Don Carlos Roman Don Rafael Sainz, vacationing banking millionaire Pep des Horts (Algot Lange), the Dane The Banker Don Abel Matutes Artists Andres, the young socialist Rigoberto Soler Derek Rogers, English painter Woman and Young Girls Eulalia Noguera Marie Anfita, the postmans daughter Teresa Bonéd, her daughter Juana Maruja, the Secretario’s daughter Odila, Ex-Captain Nicolaus daughter Angeles, granddaughter of old Vicent the mason Maria, Pep Salvador’s favourite daughter Marguerita, fiancée of Fernando the schoolmaster Military Officers and Militiamen Captain Don Alfredo Bayo, leader of government expedition Captain Pastor, second in command El Cubano, a corporal Maño, a militiaman Pedro, Maño comrade Ex-Commandant Mestres, rebel Governor of the island

Part 1 4000 BC to 1936 AD I. Dawn and Moonlight II. Of Fish and Fishermen III. The Morning Bus IV. Stores and Storekeepers V. The Church VI. Cosmi and the Punta de Arabie VII. Of Farms and Farmers VIII. A Group in the Main Street IX. The Back Street X. Of Public Service XI. Les Jeunes Filles en Fleur XII. The Guardia Civil XIII. Communists, Fascists, and Others

Part 2 July 14 to September 15, 1936 XIV. The Barcelona Boat XV. An Airplane XVI. The Manifesto XVII. The Fleet XVIII. The Man Hunt XIX. The Bombardment XX. Victory XXI. The Internationale XXII. Dios Foutut XXIII. La Lutte Finale XXIV. Maño XXV. Shadows of Vultures Postscript

Reviews

The book was praised by Richard Rees, editor of The Adelphi magazine, who called it, along with George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia and Georges Bernanos's Les grands cimetières sous la lune, one of "the only books about Spain that can be said to be written by people with free (i.e. fundamentally honest, if often mistaken ) minds".^[4]

References

1. The Life and Death of a Spanish Town: Author: Elliot Paul Publisher: London : Peter Davis; Publisher United States; Random House, New York; 1st Edition (1937) ASIN B002DQL7GK
2. The Life and Death of a Spanish Town: Author: Elliot Paul Publisher: Greenwood Press (1971) ISBN 9780837156286
3. Arnold Goldman. "The Town That Did Not Die", Journal of American Studies (Cambridge University Press) Vol. 25 (1991), pp. 71-78.
4. Richard Rees, quoted in Orwell in Spain, Penguin 2001, p. 293. ISBN 978-0-14-118516-3