New Books in History Giles Tremlett, "El Generalísimo: A Biography of Francisco Franco" (Oxford UP, 2025)
Jan 17, 2026
Giles Tremlett, a prize-winning biographer and historian of 20th-century Spain, delves into the life of Francisco Franco in his latest book. He explores Franco’s complex relationship with his father and his early military ambitions in Morocco, which shaped his authoritarian ideology. Tremlett discusses Franco's cautious tactics during the Civil War, his strategic alliances with Hitler and Mussolini, and the Catholic Church's role in legitimizing his regime. The conversation challenges conventional views, portraying Franco as a pragmatic dictator whose legacy profoundly influences modern Spain.
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Franco As Spain's Key Historical Figure
- Francisco Franco is central to understanding modern Spain and its 20th-century trajectory.
- Giles Tremlett argues you cannot explain Spain's present without studying Franco's life and impact.
Family Rift Shaped Franco's Character
- Franco came from a naval-administrator family but resented his father for running off with his girlfriend.
- Giles Tremlett links this family rupture to Franco's lifelong bitterness and conservatism.
Morocco Made Franco's Career
- Service in Spanish Morocco accelerated Franco's career and worldview among the Africanistas.
- Tremlett says Morocco made him the youngest general in Europe and forged his military ambition.
