Originally written as a series of 23 weekly articles by Richards, a British writer and editor, for the anarchist journal Freedom in 1952 and republished in various editions since then, this book critiques the CNT-FAIs (National Confederation of Labour-Anarchist Federation of Iberia) decision to enter the Popular Front government in October 1936 and argues that the libertarian leadership made fundamental errors related to their belief that the war against authority could be waged more effectively within the framework of the state and subordinating everything else, including economic and social transformation, to winning the war, as well as the idea that it was essential to collaborate with political parties. The author contends that the libertarians were misguided in voting for the Popular Front parties in the general election of February 1936 and that the CNT should have attempted to seize the Spanish gold reserve. He considers the reasons for the defeat of the revolution and to what extent the revolutionary movement was responsible for its own defeat. The introduction includes description of the authors life and work. This edition removes a brief section on the second edition of Hugh Thomas' The Spanish Civil War. Annotation 2020 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
