Seeing the writing on the wall, one of Spain''s largest unions began secretly arming workers throughout the country. The anarcho-syndicalist union evolved from overseeing workers'' defense to organizing armed resistance to the Fascist coup. From there, it administered entire militias and finally coordinated industrial self-management and food distribution, leading a revolution within the Spanish Civil War. A fascinating new history and a lively narrative of ordinary men and women making history.

Agustín Guillamón is an independent historian and the author of The Friends of Durruti Group, 1937–39 and The Committees Revolution.