The breakdown of democracy in Spain in the 1930s resulted in a torrent of political and military violence. In this thoroughly revised edition of his classic text, Paul Preston provides a deeply disturbing explanation of the democratic collapse, coherently and excitingly outlining the social and economic background.
Since the first edition of this book was completed more than fifteen years ago, archives have been opened up, the diaries, letters and memoirs of major protagonists have been published and there have been innumerable studies of the politics of the Republic, of parties, unions, elections and social conflict, national and provincial. This edition updates the original text as exhaustively as possible to take account of the new material.

Paul Preston is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics. His many books on Spain include Franco: A Biography (1993), The Politics of Revenge: Fascism and the Military in Twentieth-Century Spain (1990) and The Triumph of Democracy in Spain (1986).

PROLOGUE 1 THE ORIGINS OF THE SOCIALIST SCHISM: 1917-31 2 BUILDING BARRICADES AGAINST REFORM The legalist Right, 1931-3 3 SOCIAL DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL CONFLICT The PSOE in power, 1931-3 4 THE POLITICS OF REPRISAL The CEDA, the PSOE and the polarisation of 1934 5 A BLUFF CALLED The insurrection of 1934 6 THE LEGAL ROAD TO THE CORPORATE STATE The CEDA in power, 1934-5 7 SOCIALISM UNDER STRESS Repression, radicalisation and the Popular Front 8 THE ABANDONMENT OF LEGALISM The PSOE, the CEDA and the coming of war in 1936 EPILOGUE