Réquiem por un campesino español

First published in 1953 as *Mosén Millán*, Ramón J. Sender’s "Réquiem por un campesino español" is widely regarded as one of the finest novels about the Spanish Civil War. Written from exile, this concise yet powerful narrative distills the conflict's social fractures and moral dilemmas into the story of a single Aragonese village.

The novel unfolds as Mosén Millán, the village priest, sits in the sacristy waiting to say a requiem mass for Paco el del Molino, a young peasant executed by Nationalist forces a year earlier. As he waits in an empty church—abandoned by the people and attended only by Paco's enemies—Millán’s memories reconstruct Paco’s life: his baptism, his wedding, his political awakening, and his tragic death.

Through a masterful use of flashback and symbolism, Sender explores themes of betrayal, guilt, and the complicity of the Church with the traditional power structures (the landowners and the military). Mosén Millán, passive and "eyes closed" to the injustice around him, represents an institution that failed its people, while Paco embodies the hope and tragedy of the Spanish populace. The novel is a profound allegory of the war, where personal history and national tragedy are inextricably enshrined.

This Stockcero edition, edited by Borja Rodríguez-Gutiérrez, provides a comprehensive introduction that contextualizes Sender’s life and work, highlighting the autobiographical elements—such as the execution of his own wife and brother—that infuse the novel with genuine emotion. It analyzes the narrative structure, the rich symbolism (the colt in the church, the ballad of the altar boy), and the stark social critique, making this essential reading for understanding the human cost of the Spanish Civil War.