It’s not the first time I say it: there are people who only need one book, the Bible to explain the world (…) To me, it happens to me, I must confess it, with ”The Echo of the Steps” the memoirs of Juan García Oliver. An anarchist waiter who arrived at the Minister of Justice in the middle of the war.

from an article by Andreu Barnils on vilaweb

”Durruti and I went to the request of President Lluís Companys. It was surrounded by army officers. When he saw us, opening his arms, he exclaimed: “My children, people of the CNT, today you are the only hope of Catalonia! Forget everything and save the freedoms of our people! “

– Is that all, Companys? I said. I thought you wanted us here to give us weapons.

-I do not have any weapons to give you. I just wanted to wish you lots of luck! ” he replied

(note: The Catalan president Luis Companys later ran out of luck himself and was executed by a fascist terrorist firing squad)

This is one of the hundred of priceless scenes in The Echo of the Steps, one of the books that have influenced my brain more powerfully. They are the memories of a Catalan anarchist.

(note: 100 yrs later García’s great book isn’t translated yet into English, but you can read…   My Revolutionary Life (Anarchist Library):   )

«When the military were beginning their coup d’etat, the CNT Confederal Defense Committee of Barcelona had an advantage of almost a year and a half  studying and planning how to counteract a military revolt. The Confederal Defense Committee existed since the first days of the Republic. The Confederal Defense Panels also (…) Continue reading “Durruti and Garcia Oliver Live: in The Echo of Their Footsteps’”