GORDON PARSONS is bowled over by a skilfully stripped down and powerfully relevant production of Hamlet
The barricade moment
HELEN MERCER admires a skilful telling of 12 personal histories of engagement with the Spanish civil war
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Forged in Spain
Richard Baxell
Clapton Press, £16.99
RICHARD BAXELL’s new book has 10 chapters which provide short yet detailed and vivid biographies of 12 of those who fought in the Spanish civil war.
Seven were International Brigaders (Malcolm Dunbar, Sam Lesser, Peter Kerrigan, Alexander Foote, Clive Branson, Alex Tudor-Hart and Ronnie Burghes). One fought with the POUM (Stafford Cottman) and one with Franco’s forces (Peter Kemp).
Leah Manning is remembered for her role in ensuring the evacuation and settlement in Britain of Basque children.
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TONY FOX reports from a Hartlepool event to commemorate those from the area who went and fought for liberty in Spain
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This year’s International Brigade Memorial Trust
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drawing parallels between 1930s Spain and
today, reports LYNNE WALSH
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Teaching youngsters about the International Brigades and the Spanish civil war is vital for a proper understanding of 20th-century history, writes JIM JUMP