José María Gironella embarked on a monumental literary endeavor to encapsulate the historical complexities of contemporary Spain through the medium of fiction. Inspired by a powerful encounter during the Spanish Civil War, Gironella poured sixteen years of dedication into crafting a narrative that examined the multifaceted nature of war and its impact on the human spirit. His ambitious series, initiated with the publication of The Cypresses Believe in God, serves as both a family saga and a sweeping historical account, providing a nuanced portrayal of the events that shaped a nation's destiny.

The Genesis of Gironella’s Vision

The spark that ignited Gironella's literary project was a seemingly innocuous interaction with a French girl during his service as a ski soldier in the Pyrenees, near the French-Spanish border. This brief encounter, which involved a poignant question about the absurdity of fraternal conflict, provoked a deep introspective desire in Gironella to articulate the chaotic and tragic events unfolding in Spain. Thus, The Cypresses Believe in God was born—an epic narrative grounded in the realistic tradition, capturing the sociopolitical landscape of Spain from April 1931 to July 1936.

The Cypresses Believe in God

In The Cypresses Believe in God, Gironella artfully balances the grand scale of historical events with the intimate chronicle of a family's life. The Alvear family, representing the myriad Spanish households affected by the prelude to civil war, serves as the narrative's focal point. Each family member embodies different facets of Spanish society: Matías Alvear, a Castilian telegraph clerk, his Basque wife Carmen Elgazu, and their children César, Pilar, and Ignacio, who mirror the diverse ideological and cultural tensions within Spain.

Ignacio Alvear, both an idealist and a skeptic, becomes the novel's central protagonist. He reflects the inner turmoil of a nation divided, as he navigates his transition to adulthood amidst political upheaval. Through Ignacio’s interactions, Gironella provides readers a comprehensive view of Gerona’s cultural, political, and social dynamics, exploring various ideological perspectives through characters like his cousin José, who introduces him to Falangist ideology, and David and Olga Pol, who expose him to the leftist views.

While Ignacio’s personal journey is filled with love, loss, and philosophical pursuits, it is intertwined with the escalating political crisis. The title of the novel draws its inspiration from an act of violence committed by Communists setting fire to the cypress trees—a symbolic prelude to the war, representing the potential loss of faith and spirituality in Spain. As the novel closes with César Alvear’s execution, there is a poignant reflection on the senselessness of war and its tragic toll on families and individuals.

One Million Dead

The second volume, One Million Dead, continues the tale against the backdrop of the civil war from July 1936 to April 1939. Gironella expands the narrative's scope to encompass the entirety of Spain, maintaining a dual perspective on the conflict and striving for impartiality. His meticulous research and firsthand experiences infuse the novel with an authentic sense of the era’s turbulence, capturing the devastating human cost of the war—both physical and psychological.

The novel opens with Ignacio Alvear’s discovery of his brother’s body, an event that catalyzes his critical view of the ongoing conflict. As the war persists, Ignacio enlists as a medical aide in the Nationalist army, bringing him face to face with the grim realities of battle in various Spanish cities, including Barcelona and Madrid. The narrative also features Ignacio’s exploration of the Pyrenees, where the serenity of the mountains offers a stark contrast to the chaos enveloping the country.

Throughout the novel, Gironella's impartial treatment of the war’s factions seeks to...