Franco

An essential biography that unmasks one of the most defining figures of 20th-century European history to 21st-century readers

No one has shaped Spain’s contemporary history as profoundly as Francisco Franco Bahamonde (1892–1975). Fifty years after his death, he remains an enigma despite his overwhelming presence. His image is deeply ingrained in Europe’s collective memory, yet it remains shrouded in distortions, propaganda, and historical amnesia.

In this insightful and revealing biography, Julián Casanova, the leading historian of his generation and foremost expert on the period, offers a comprehensive portrait of the man who determined Spain’s fate for four decades. More than that, he uncovers how an unremarkable military officer became Spain’s longest-ruling dictator.

Franco seized power through a military uprising and secured it with bloodshed during the Spanish Civil War. Before that, he was just another figure among his ambitious brothers, the ruthless Africanists, and the rising stars drawn to counterrevolution. Nevertheless, absolute power transformed his personality, his international image, and his inner circle.

Casanova masterfully deconstructs the myths surrounding Franco, revealing previously unknown aspects of his life and crafting the definitive account for a new generation. Within this pages, all of Franco’s faces come to light. Drawing from countless testimonies, archival materials, and extensive historical research, this book offers a precise, fresh, and essential perspective. Now, with this masterful historical biography, the definitive portrait of one of the most enduring autocrats in Europe’s recent history is finally complete.