Emily Kaufman: "Under Franco you had to love your country and love the church"

Ibizology

The historian and writer, Emily Kaufman, has brought Ibiza’s history to life for English-speakers through many magazine articles and her much-loved book, A History Buff’s Guide to Ibiza. Emily was born in New York city and grew up in Pennsylvania. She came to Spain on a gap year after university and that year became the rest of her life. Emily moved to Ibiza in 1984 where the great walls of Dalt Vila first piqued her interest in history. In this interview I want to explore the Spanish Civil War as it still seems so raw and relevant today, eighty years later. Emily brings to life this tumultuous period in European history, describing how the forces of communism, fascism and democratic reform collided and led to war in Spain. It touched Ibiza with some horrifying results including the massacre of more than 90 men, the cream of Ibizan high society. Ibizology artwork by Lizzie Langford