Hermoso Plaja Saló y Carmen Paredes Sansel anarquismo silencioso, 1889-1982

Resum

This work is a mosaic of the Spanish libertarian movement of the XIXth century, shown through the history of a family of anarchist editors whose more conspicuous member is Hermoso Plaja. They are unknown people supporting the schools, the unions, the publishing houses, from where a social network emerges imbued of the libertarian ideal. Hermoso Plaja, born in Palamós in 1889, was active in the labour movement in Tarragona province, being a member of the CNT, from 1916 to 1923. In Tarragona, in 1911, he met Carmen Paredes, who assumed the libertarian ideal for life. Their two daughters, Acracia and Camelia, and their son, Germinal, were born there. In 1918 they started their publishing career founding the Acracia magazine. Persecutions forced them to move to Barcelona in 1924, where Hermoso will edit Solidaridad Obrera. Jobs being scarce, they start a printing shop in 1927. Those are the years of Primo de Rivera's dictatorship, of underground propaganda and of escuelas racionalistas, where their daughters and son got their education. In Barcelona they start their longest-lived publishing venture: VÉRTICE. In July 1936 they make donation of their publishing funds to the revolution: the trucks of Collectivised General Motors distribute and sale the books and leaflets stored during many years for this occasion. The collected money is used to make shoes for the militias of the Aragón front. In January 1939, they abandon their collection of books and documents and flee to France; except Germinal, who remains in prison. In August 1940 they got to Mexico. Acracia and Camelia form their own homes. After several years of hardships, during which Hermoso and Carmen reject "to make the Americas" because it means to hire labour, they start a small printing shop in 1949. Which they operate till 1965, when Carmen's health requires all possible care. She dies in 1970. Three years later Acracia dies in a car accident. In 1977 Hermoso returns to Spain with his archive, which he donates to the Biblioteca Arús, and settles in Palafrugell with Germán. He dies there in 1982