"Fifty years ago Franco's fascist troops stormed Spain. Backed by Hitler and Mussolini, they eventually crushed the democratically-elected Republic-- but not without facing one of the greatest resistances of the human spirit ever mounted.An international volunteer army came to the aid of the people of Spain, including many of the greatest writers and artists of the day. W.H. Auden served as a stretcher bearer; Hemingway and Dos Pasos dodged bullets to film a documentary of the war; Dorthy Parker braved the front lines; George Orwell fought in the trenches. Others, like Thomas Mann, William Faulkner, Pablo Picasso and Samuel Beckett spoke out vehemently from their home countries.Few historical events have inspired such an incredible body of impassioned literature. Collected here are these writers' enraged cries against the fascist tyranny that led to World War II."(From the back dust jacket)