Viva España

Book excerpt: Spain, 1936: NBC Radio, New York, sends two young reporters, Tom Wells and Meg Austin, to Madrid where Franco and his revolutionary fascist generals have plunged the country into a ruthless civil conflict. The lovers experience the ambiguities, dangers and drama of war-time Spain. They witness the heartbreaking scenes of civilian-soldiers armed with ancient weapons and little ammunition fighting experienced, well-supplied combat troops. Bombs fall on civilian neighborhoods dropped by Hitlers and Mussolinis bombers. The fascists support Franco, the Russian Communists the Republic, while the western democracies stand idly by. Both Meg and Tom become enmeshed in the political realities of the war. They quarrel over Stalins acts of terror. Tom believes Stalins methods are necessary to defeat fascism. Meg sharply disagrees. She is bewildered by Toms absolute certainty. Can she trust him? Will their affair survive?