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Not for King or Country: Edward Cecil-Smith, the Communist Party of Canada, and the Spanish Civil War

Name: Not for King or Country: Edward Cecil-Smith, the Communist Party of Canada, and the Spanish Civil War
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Book Synopsis: Not for King or Country tells the story of Edward Cecil-Smith, a dynamic propagandist for the Communist Party of Canada during the Great Depression. Born to missionary parents in China in 1903, Cecil-Smith came to Toronto in 1919 where he joined the Canadian militia and lived a happy life ensconced in the Protestant missionary community of Toronto. He became increasingly interested in radical politics during the 1920s, eventually joining the Communist Party in 1931. Worried by the growing strength of fascism around the world, particularly in China, Germany, Italy, and Spain during the summer of 1936, Cecil-Smith quietly departed Canada and became among the first volunteers to fight for the Republic in the Spanish Civil War. Cecil-Smith was motivated to fight not out of any sense of traditional patriotism ("for king or country") but out of a sense that the onward march of fascism had to be stopped, and Spain was where the line had to be drawn.

Not for King or Country is the first biography of a Canadian commander in the Spanish Civil War, and is also the first book to critically analyse the major battles in which the Canadian and American volunteers fought. Drawing upon declassified RCMP files, records held in the Russian Archives in Moscow, audio recordings of the volunteers, a detailed survey of maps, and battle records, as well as the Communist Party press, Not for King or Country breaks down the battles and the Party's activities in a way that will be accessible to interested readers and scholars alike.

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Looking for a captivating book that combines history, politics, and personal narratives? Look no further than Not for King or Country: Edward Cecil-Smith, the Communist Party of Canada, and the Spanish Civil War. This enthralling biography takes you on a journey through the life of Edward Cecil-Smith, a fascinating propagandist for the Communist Party of Canada during the turbulent times of the Great Depression.

Set against the backdrop of the rise of fascism in China, Germany, Italy, and Spain, Cecil-Smith's story is one that will leave you both enlightened and inspired. As one of the first volunteers to fight for the Republic in the Spanish Civil War, Cecil-Smith's motivations were driven not by traditional patriotism, but by his unwavering desire to halt the spread of fascism.

What sets Not for King or Country apart is its groundbreaking approach to unraveling the major battles in which Canadian and American volunteers fought. Meticulously researched with the help of declassified RCMP files, records from the Russian Archives in Moscow, audio recordings of the volunteers, and a comprehensive survey of maps and battle records, this book offers an unparalleled deep dive into the dramatic events of the Spanish Civil War.

Accessible to both history enthusiasts and scholars, Not for King or Country is a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating account of a Canadian commander's journey through this pivotal historical event. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to uncover the untold stories of heroism and the fight against fascism. Get your copy now and embark on this riveting adventure.

Order your copy of Not for King or Country today!

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