Homage to Catalonia
by George Orwell
Adapted by Mike Walker.
160/44; 131 MB total; sound quality excellent
Episode 1 of 2
First broadcast: Sunday 27 January 2013
In 1936 Eric and Eileen Blair were making ends meet by running a small village shop in Wallington and growing vegetables. Eric had recently sent 'The Road to Wigan Pier' to Victor Gollancz, hoping it would be published. But then news came from Spain that Franco's Nationalists had risen up against the elected Republican government. In this first episode of his autobiographical account, Eric decides to go to Spain - not just to record the struggle but to fight the Fascists. Unusually tall, and with size 12 feet, he immediately stood out amongst the locals. He joined a badly organised and ill equipped militia, armed with dud bombs and rusty guns. It was a decision that would nearly cost him his life, and produce one of the most vivid accounts of the Spanish Civil War.
Episode 2 of 2
First broadcast: Sunday 03 February 2013
The fighting at the front is deadlocked. Freezing temperatures, ancient guns and dud ammunition only add to their woes. Eric's spirits are cheered by a visit from his wife, Eileen, but when they take the train to Barcelona they find the atmosphere changed. Last time there were no class divisions, no masters and servants, only comrades. Now the waiters are calling their customers 'Sir' again. To add to the confusion the different factions of the Left are all fighting each other. Then Georges Kopp is arrested and imprisoned; others are tortured. The Blairs begin to realise they are in terrible danger and must flee for their lives.
Eric Blair ... Joseph Millson
Eileen Blair ... Lyndsey Marshal
Georges Kopp ... Ewan Bailey
Spanish volunteer ... Javier Marzan
Jack ... Hywel John
Henry Miller ... Richard Laing
John McNair ... John McAndrew
Benjamin ... Jon Lolis
Idris ... Ben McGregor
Tom Gallagher ... Gareth Pierce
Fascist soldier ... Asier Newman
A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll.
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