| Description |
Barcelona's most prominent newspaper, La Vanguardia, framed a fierce resistance to Franco during the Spanish Civil War even when it became clear that defeat was imminent. Its writers and editors made a desperate plea for democratic values, not just to struggling locals or the international community they still sought to recruit, but to future generations. These journalists thus proved uniquely discerning of the implications of their work, appearing to recognize outright that they had lost the war in the hope that their legacy might one day be recovered. In a striking break with the past, La Vanguardia designated itself the "guardian of democracy" and argued for the newfound rights of women, minorities, and workers. This thesis examines the rise and fall of the Second Spanish Republic, the ideals stirred up in revolutionary Barcelona, and the significant role assumed by the media in wartime. |
