Homage to Catalonia is George Orwell's personal account of his experiences and observations fighting for the POUM militia of the Republican army during the Spanish Civil War. The war was one of the defining events of his political outlook and a significant part of what led him to write in 1946, "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for Democratic Socialism, as I understand it." The first edition was published in the United Kingdom in 1938. The book was not published in the United States until February 1952, when it appeared with an influential preface by Lionel Trilling. The only translation published in Orwell's lifetime was into Italian, in December 1948. A French translation by Yvonne Davet-with whom Orwell corresponded, commenting on her translation and providing explanatory notes-in 1938-39, was not published until five years after Orwell's death. Book Summary: Orwell served as a private, a corporal (cabo) and-when the informal command structure of the militia gave way to a conventional hierarchy in May 1937-as a lieutenant, on a provisional basis, in Catalonia and Aragon from December 1936 until June 1937. In June 1937, the leftist political party with whose militia he served (the POUM, the Workers' Party of Marxist Unification, an anti-Stalinist communist party) was declared an illegal organisation, and Orwell was consequently forced to flee. Having arrived in Barcelona on 26 December 1936, Orwell told John McNair, the Independent Labour Party's (ILP) representative there, that he had "come to Spain to join the militia to fight against Fascism." He also told McNair that "he would like to write about the situation and endeavour to stir working class opinion in Britain and France." McNair took him to the POUM barracks, where Orwell immediately enlisted. "Orwell did not know that two months before he arrived in Spain, the [Soviet law enforcement agency] NKVD's resident in Spain, Aleksandr Orlov, had assured NKVD Headquarters, 'the Trotskyist organisation POUM can easily be liquidated'-by those, the Communists, whom Orwell took to be allies in the fight against Franco."

An unbeatable guide to the buzzing city of Barcelona and the rural region of Catalonia, packed with photos and maps, insider tips, useful advice, and information. Inspiring itineraries will help you discover the best things to do in Barcelona and Catalonia, from marveling at Barcelona Cathedral and Gaudí's Sagrada Família and Park Güell, to enjoying the sun on the Costa Brava and visiting the peaceful monasteries, such as Montserrat, in the hills of Catalonia. You'll find listings for a variety of Catalonian hotels and restaurants, as well as a guide to help you find the best tapas in Barcelona. Unique illustrations, stunning photography, and detailed maps make this guide the essential companion to your trip to the region. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Barcelona & Catalonia truly shows you this city as no one else can.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Barcelona and Catalonia will lead you to the best attractions this region has to offer. The fully updated guide includes unique cutaways, floor plans, and reconstructions of Barcelona's major architectural sights. DK's insider travel tips and essential local information will help you discover the best of Barcelona and Catalonia, from local festivals and markets to day trips around the countryside. Detailed listings will guide you to hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops for all budgets, while transportation maps and a chart showing the walking distances between sights will help you get around the city. What's new in DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: -New itineraries based on length of stay, regional destinations, and themes. -Brand -new hotel and restaurants listings including DK's Choice recommendations. -Restaurant locations plotted on redrawn area maps and listed with sights. -Redesigned and refreshed interiors make the guides even easier to read. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that brighten up every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Barcelona and Catalonia truly shows you around this destination as no one else can. Now available in PDF format.

Now available in PDF format. Days are long in Barcelona: The morning extends until well after midday, lunch begins around 2 p.m., and late opening hours mean the afternoon merges with the evening. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Barcelona and Catalonia will help readers make the most of their trips and every lingering hour of the day-and the night. Readers will find detailed listings of the best hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops for all budgets in this revised and updated guide. Plus, insider tips on living la vida Barcelona, from enjoying sangria in the Parque Güell to sunning in Port Olympic's lesser-known corners. It also includes in-depth coverage of all Barcelona and Catalonia's unforgettable sights, such as Gaudí's extraordinary La Sagrada Familia church and the historic avenue of La Rambla. And, readers won't wan to miss the suggested "Four Great Days in Barcelona." Each day maps out an itinerary ranging from "Gaudí Greats" to "Family Fun."