If they knew anything about Franco, their smiles would freeze. That is why “Franco para jóvenes” (Editorial Catarata) has just arrived in bookstores, written by four hands between my son and my daughter. Erik Martínez Westley y me. In 2025 (on 20-N) it will be half a century since the death of this dictator who had all the power in his hands for almost 40 years. Because of him, fear lived among us. Whether we like it or not, it still endures.
For the presentation of the book, we have two prominent figures whom I have admired for decades for their struggle against the Dictatorship and in favor of Democracy. They are Paquita Sauquillopolitician and lawyer, and Fernando Martínez LópezProfessor of Contemporary History and Secretary of State for Democratic Memory. We democrats are indebted to them.
Besides economics, I am interested in history. That is why I founded the monthly “International History” in 1974. I like to debate on proven facts. Erik (perhaps influenced by his years in Hollywood) is more emotional and asks me to include personal anecdotes lived and/or suffered when we did not have freedom. His mother (Anne Westleyformer New York Times ) disagrees. As you will see in the book, Erik wins.
The caudillo of Spain “by the grace of God”, and not by the vote of the Spaniards, marks the recent history of our country. However, it is hardly studied in schools. A lot of Middle Ages and little Franco’s Dictatorship. The “generalissimo” Franco has left us a deep imprint that should be identified in these times of the rise of national populism and the extreme right.
He did not accept the result of the democratic elections of February 1936, revolted against the legitimate government of the Second Republic and won the civil war with the decisive help of Hitler and Mussolini. Through a great investment in terror, he put fear into our bodies. Some loved him and others hated him. Everyone feared him.
In this book we tell his story sprinkled with part of my own. May it be of interest to young people. Freedom is like oxygen. You value it more when you lack it. I lacked it for 30 years. My son Erik was born in freedom. Santayana tells us that those who do not know the worst of their history run the risk of repeating it. We wrote this book so that it can serve as a vaccine for young people against the lies and hoaxes that threaten our freedom. We have also written it with teachers in mind.
