Recalling the Good Fight: An Autobiography of the Spanish Civil War

July 1986 marks the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, in which thousands of volunteers from 25 countries fought in Spain to defend the Republican government against fascist insurgents led by Franco. Among the volunteers was the author, then a 22-year-old trade unionist from New Jersey. Tisa entered Spain in 1937, and remained there, a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, until 1939. During that time he kept a diary to contribute to the Republican forces' program of tactical documentation and analysis. In addition to serving as a soldier, Tisa edited the frontline newspaper, Brigade Historian, and worked as propagandist for the Political Commissariat of International Brigades. He has assembled this memorial to a heroic, disillusioning struggle from his diaries and from documents of the Republic, letters and other papers entrusted to him by his comrades. Photos not seen by PW. November