In recent years, the Spanish Civil War has emerged as a popular backdrop in British historical novels. Authors such as Patrick McGragh, Colm Tóibín, Lindsay Ashford, Jack Ludlow. Kate Lord Brown, and C. J. Sansom drawn inspiration from Spain and its 1930s civil war to shape their plots and characters. These narratives strive for a realistic portrayal and demonstrate a commitment to historical accuracy. Notably, Sansom’s "Winter in Madrid" (2006) and Lord Brown’s "The perfume garden" (2012) feature author’s notes that provide historical context and acknowledge the sources used to recreate this part of Spanish history. Therefore, these novels raise thought-provoking questions about the interplay between fact, fiction, and truth. Building upon Kate McLoughlin’s perspective on war representation, as presented in her book "Authoring war" (2011), this chapter aims to explore how the Spanish Civil War is depicted in the historical novels of Sansom and Lord Brown. The analysis will assess the extent to which these works present an accurate and truthful portrayal of the Spanish conflict, considering narrative and rhetorical devices employed, thematic content, and the authors’ ideological motivations.

Agencia Estatal de Investigación