Writer and Journalist, Arturo Barea was one of the most important figures of Spanish exile. Born in Badajoz, the aftermath of the Civil War forced him to move out of the country, making him flee to the United Kingdom where he spent the rest of his days. It was there where he wrote The Forge of a Rebel, a trilogy first published in English and included by critics among the best of the narrative of exile.

Having lived under the protection of Lord Faringon in Oxfordshire, Arturo Barea was capable of producing some very interesting work, some of it under the pseudonym Juan de Castilla. He participated in the cultural life of the exiles, never going back to Spain and leaving most of his archive in the United Kingdom, currently deposited at the Bodleian Library.

To commemorate his figure the Instituto Cervantes and the Cañada Blanch Central organize a talk between Michael Eaude, journalist and author Arturo Barea: Triumph at midnight of the century, and Paul Preston, acclaimed historian specialized in Spanish History. Another talk will be taking place on the following day at the Weston Library in Oxford, were Prof. Tom Buchanan (The impact of the Spanish Civil War in the United Kingdom), Dr. Nigel Townson (Life as an exile), Dr. Eva Nieto (A voice for the Americas, the talks by Arturo Barea in the BBC) and the editor Uli Rushby-Smith (Arturo Barea, a personal memory) will participate to reflect on Arturo Barea’s work.

To attend the event on the 7th, please click here

To attend the event on the 8th, please click here