George Orwell fought in the Spanish Civil War 75 years ago, an experience that nearly killed him but was crucial to his later political work and formed the basis of Homage to Catalonia. Our experts look back at the Spanish War, and reflect on the place of this crucial conflict in modern European history.

Helen Graham is professor of Spanish history at Royal Holloway, University of London and author of The Spanish Republic at War and The Spanish Civil War: A Very Short Introduction. Paul Preston is professor of contemporary Spanish studies at the LSE and author of We Saw Spain Die and the forthcoming The Spanish Holocaust. Francisco Romero Salvado is a senior lecturer in modern Spanish history and politics at the University of Bristol. The discussion is chaired by Jean Seaton, director of the Orwell Prize.

Sponsored by The Orwell Prize