Orwell learned some sad lessons in the BS of the left during that war; he joined one of the Marxist groups fighting for the government that was eventually eliminated by the more mainstream communists, and eventually fled for his life (for fear of communists, not the military/”fascist” opponents). He described the misinformation campaign used to consolidate power for the communists, and the outright lies of the war propaganda (victories where there hadn’t even been battles, and no mention of defeats). I guess afterwards he must have felt as Hemmingway did about Cuba...
Hm, You’ve endangered the order in my reading book pile.
Have fogged my brain for years with mostly WW1 and WW2 reading but see I missed this war ‘in between’,
Saw this link which seemed to have some well thought recommendations ... Don’t know if you have any other favorites on the subject? Thinking of starting on the one by Helen Graham. Hemingway is mentioned in one of the books but was unaware of Orwell’s roots until your comment and want more on his life.
http://fivebooks.com/interview/paul-preston-on-the-spanish-civil-war/
Thx jcon
Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia is well worth reading. Some background at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage_to_Catalonia