I've recently started to get really interested in the Spanish Civil War and as such, I wanted to purchase a book that provides an overview of said event.
From what I've read online, it seems that The Battle for Spain by Anthony Beevor and The Spanish Civil War by Hugh Thomas are the best ones in that regard (I've also seen The Spanish Civil War: A Very Short Introduction by Helen Graham recommended a lot, but I've decided to focus on the ones that go "more in-depth").
That is essentially my dilemma. If it's possible, I'd like to purchase the book that deals more with internal politics of the internal factions. From PCE and Carlists to Basque Separatists and Azaña's IR, etc etc.
Thank you and happy holidays (if you celebrate the ones around this date).
Purely personal prejudice but I'd take Thomas over Beevor - both are readable and provide decent context, but ultimately Beevor just doesn't have the same depth of knowledge of this particular subject. Thomas has more limited value as a springboard into further reading though, as the work it tends to draw on is now well out of date.
I completed a research paper on the Spanish Civil War last semester and used Beevor’s book extensively to understand the conflict. I would recommend it.
The Battle For Spain does a good job providing the necessary context before the war, going through the conflict’s chronology, and highlighting the difference between Beevor’s opinion and what is considered just information. My only caveat is to make sure you get the most recent edition (no major changes were made, but it’s the most accurate version).
When it comes to Thomas’s book, I won’t say anything because I never read it.
As for understanding the internal struggles of the factions in the war, I would recommend The Republican Army by Micheal Alpert. Plus, Alpert disagrees with some of Beevor’s perspective, so reading it will give you a richer understanding of historians’ perspectives. However, don’t start with this book. It assumes the reader has a general understanding of the conflict to begin with.