Life and Death of a Spanish Town
Life and Death of a Spanish Town is a book by Elliot Paul based on his actual experiences of living in the town of Santa Eulària des Riu on the Spanish island of Ibiza, at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.
The book was published in 1937 by Random House Inc, of New York.
Format
The book starts with a list of the Men and Women of Santa Eulalia. The story is then presented in two parts. The first is titled 4000 BC to 1936 AD, with the second part called July 14 to September 15, 1936. There is also a postscript by Paul, dated 14 June 1937.Synopsis
The book is set in and around the small town of Santa Eulària des Riu, on Ibiza, where Paul had lived since 1931.The first part of the book describes the town and many of the characters who live and work there. He details their family lives, their hopes, their aspirations, and their politics. He provides details of the people at work and at play and describes how he becomes part of the community of the town.
Paul also writes of other expatriates who have made their homes in and around the town.
The second part of the book starts with Paul and his family returning to Ibiza after some time away. The narrative is set in 1936 in the week leading up to the outbreak of hostilities on Ibiza during the Spanish Civil War and describes the events that eventually lead to Paul, his family and other refugees from the violence, fleeing the island. It tells the story of civil disobedience, collaboration, and the violence that split a once-happy community, but the narrative finishes before the tragic turn of events reaches its conclusion.
The postscript, written by Paul, dated 14 June 1937, details events following his departure from Ibiza and describes his hopes and fears for his friends on the island and a way of life that he thought would change forever.
Contents
The Characters
''The Fishermen and their Families''
Captain JuanMateo Rosa, His Wife Paja, their daughter MariaEdmundo, Mateo’s brother- ''Toniet Pardal, his wife and children''
''Hotel and Café keepers''
Cosmi, his wife AnnaAntonio the cook, Cosmi’s brotherCatalina, servant in Cosmi’s hotelJuanito, young proprietor of the RoyaltyPedro, the waiter at the RoyaltyXumeu Ribas, proprietor of Can Xumeu and custodian of the public telephone, his wife and daughterFrancisco Ribas, Xumeu’s sonAntonia, proprietress of the fisherman’s barJulia her daughter- ''Andres, of Can Andres''
''Storekeepers''
Old Jaun, of the Casa Rosita, his on Mariano, his daughter-in-law VicentaToni Ferrer, of Las DeliciasMiguel Tur, of the Casa MiguelGuarapiñada, of Tot Barat- ''Mousson, the butcher, his daughter Catalina, his blind aunt''
''Artisans and Mechanics''
Guillermo, the blacksmithSindik, the carpenterJaun Sindik, his sonJaume, the carpenterPrimitivo, the electricianBonéd, Fascist masonVicente Cruz, younge republican mason- ''Ramon, the bus driver''
''The Priest''
Old Father CollFather TorresFather Margall, and assisting on holidays, Father Clapés and the priest who looked like a butcher boy- ''The San Carlos priest and his father''
''Officials and Guardias''
Mayor Serra, RepublicanThe Fascist MayorThe SecretarioAnfita, the postmaster, his two idiot sons, Pepe and ChiculSergeant Gomez, of the Guardia CivilGuardias Ferrer, Jiminez and BravoThe PorteroEx-Captain Nicolau, retired army officerFernando, a schoolmaster- ''Carlos, his cousin, also a schoolmaster''
''Farmers and Landowners''
Pep Salvador, Cosmi’s brotherPere des PuigJosé and Catalina, of Can JosepiFrancisco GuaschJosé Ribas, the diving championDon Ignacio RiquerDon Carlos RomanDon Rafael Sainz, vacationing banking millionaire- ''Pep des Horts, the Dane''
''The Banker''
- ''Don Abel Matutes''
''Artists''
Andres, the young socialistRigoberto Soler- ''Derek Rogers, English painter''
''Woman and Young Girls''
Eulalia NogueraMarie Anfita, the postmans daughterTeresa Bonéd, her daughter JuanaMaruja, the Secretario’s daughterOdila, Ex-Captain Nicolaus daughterAngeles, granddaughter of old Vicent the masonMaria, Pep Salvador’s favourite daughter- ''Marguerita, fiancée of Fernando the schoolmaster''
''Military Officers and Militiamen''
Captain Don Alfredo Bayo, leader of government expeditionCaptain Pastor, second in commandEl Cubano, a corporalMaño, a militiamanPedro, Maño comrade- ''Ex-Commandant Mestres, rebel Governor of the island''
Part 1
''4000 BC to 1936 AD''
I. Dawn and MoonlightII. Of Fish and FishermenIII. The Morning BusIV. Stores and StorekeepersV. The ChurchVI. Cosmi and the Punta de ArabieVII. Of Farms and FarmersVIII. A Group in the Main StreetIX. The Back StreetX. Of Public ServiceXI. Les Jeunes Filles en FleurXII. The Guardia Civil- ''XIII. Communists, Fascists, and Others''
Part 2
''July 14 to September 15, 1936''
XIV. The Barcelona BoatXV. An AirplaneXVI. The ManifestoXVII. The FleetXVIII. The Man HuntXIX. The BombardmentXX. VictoryXXI. The InternationaleXXII. Dios FoututXXIII. La Lutte FinaleXXIV. MañoXXV. Shadows of Vultures- ''Postscript''