Journalist Recovers Grandfather’s Civil War Account

Mavi Doñate, a journalist from Zaragoza, Spain, has published a book—Cuéntame el olvido—recovering the account of her grandfather’s imprisonment during the Franco regime. Gabriel Herranz Fuertes was falsely accused of rebellion in 1937 and endured four years in harsh prisons. Doñate investigated the accusations and interviewed descendants of both her grandfather and his accusers.

She found a mixture of disinterest and unfamiliarity among the accusers’ families regarding the events. Some questioned the relevance of revisiting the past. Doñate reflects on how silence may have been necessary in the early years of democracy, but questions its benefit now.

The journalist also draws parallels between Spain’s past and her time as a correspondent in China. She notes China’s economic progress but highlights the lack of freedom of expression and the presence of a strict social credit system.

Doñate believes understanding the past is crucial for progress, but acknowledges the difficulty of remaining unaffected when confronting painful histories. The work of remembering and investigating continues.