{"product_id":"9781526651952","title":"El Generalisimo: Franco: Power, Violence and the Quest for Greatness","description":"Author: Tremlett, Giles\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9781526651952\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Bloomsbury\u003cbr\u003eYear first published: 03 Mar 2026\u003cbr\u003ePages: 528\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e*A 2025 BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR- \u003ci\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ei Paper\u003c\/i\u003e*\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e'Making Francisco Franco's long life and 36 years of dictatorship enjoyable reading is a daunting challenge ... Giles\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e Tremlett nonetheless succeeds magnificently' \u003c\/b\u003ePAUL PRESTON\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An excellent biography     compelling, authoritative, even entertaining     of this highly dislikable creature' \u003c\/b\u003eSIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE,\u003ci\u003e DAILY TELEGRAPH\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A magisterial, groundbreaking new portrait ... Sets a gold standard in Spanish Civil War history' \u003c\/b\u003eELIZABETH DRAYSON\u003cbr\u003eFrom a scrawny, overlooked military graduate to the youngest general in Europe, Francisco Franco was known for his ambition, talent and calculated risk-taking. Yet his reputation remains a topic of fierce debate. \u003cb\u003eDid he destroy Spain and stifle its democracy or rescue the nation from left-wing tumult?\u003c\/b\u003e In this compelling biography, Giles Tremlett unravels the complex life and legacy of the enigmatic dictator who shaped twentieth-century Spanish history.\u003cbr\u003eThis book will delve into the complexities of Franco's character, exploring his volatile relationship with a domineering father, his traumatic experiences fighting in Morocco and the formation of his authoritarian ideology. The narrative follows Franco's ruthless leadership during the Civil War, \u003cb\u003ehis alignment with Hitler and Mussolini\u003c\/b\u003e and the subsequent Cold War era that brought him international rehabilitation. Tremlett interrogates Franco's transformation of Spain through a lens that challenges the conventional view of him as a bumbling leader. Instead, he argues that Franco was \u003cb\u003ea deliberate and pragmatic dictator who wielded terror to maintain an iron grip on power\u003c\/b\u003e, and whose lasting (and most surprising) contribution was the period of peace that allowed Spain to challenge the absolutist spirit he embodied. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNuanced and comprehensive, \u003ci\u003eEl Generalasimo\u003c\/i\u003e offers a fresh perspective that reveals the intricate interplay of ambition and fearlessness of Francisco Franco; and examines his enduring legacy that continues to shape Spain's political and cultural landscape.\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Ships in 10 to 15 days","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47509062189214,"sku":"UBD-9781526651952","price":59.78,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0400\/9043\/5742\/files\/9781526651952.jpg?v=1780640994","url":"https:\/\/classicbargains.com.au\/products\/9781526651952","provider":"Classic Bargains Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}