José Robles: Difference between revisions
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{{For|the Colombian cyclist with the same name |
{{For|the Colombian cyclist with the same name|José Robles (cyclist)}} |
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{{Spanish |
{{For|the Spanish politician|José Luis Robles}} |
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{{family name hatnote|Robles|Pazos|lang=Spanish}} |
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[[File:José Robles - Downtown, unu, nov 1928.jpg|thumb|360px|''Downtown'', 1928 drawing by Robles]] |
[[File:José Robles - Downtown, unu, nov 1928.jpg|thumb|360px|''Downtown'', 1928 drawing by Robles]] |
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'''José Robles Pazos''' ([[Santiago de Compostela]], 1897–1937) was a [[Spanish people|Spanish]] academic and independent left-wing activist. Born to an aristocratic family, Robles embraced left-wing views which forced him to leave Spain and go into exile in the United States. |
'''José Robles Pazos''' ([[Santiago de Compostela]], 1897–1937) was a [[Spanish people|Spanish]] writer, [[academia|academic]] and independent left-wing activist. Born to an aristocratic family, Robles embraced left-wing views which forced him to leave Spain and go into exile in the United States. |
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== Biography == |
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In the 1920s, he was teaching at [[Johns Hopkins University]] and became a friend and [[Spanish language]] translator for writer [[John Dos Passos]], who at the time also supported the radical left. His translation of ''[[Manhattan Transfer (novel)|Manhattan Transfer]]'' is still considered to be exemplary. He also translated some works of [[Sinclair Lewis]]. |
In the 1920s, he was teaching at [[Johns Hopkins University]] and became a friend and [[Spanish language]] translator for writer [[John Dos Passos]], who at the time also supported the radical left. His translation of ''[[Manhattan Transfer (novel)|Manhattan Transfer]]'' is still considered to be exemplary. He also translated some works of [[Sinclair Lewis]]. |
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At the outbreak of the [[Spanish Civil War]], Robles was on vacation in Spain. He supported the cause of the [[Second Spanish Republic|Spanish Republic]], but his independent and outspoken views brought him in conflict with the Soviet Union's emissaries, who were gaining increasing control of the Republican government. |
At the outbreak of the [[Spanish Civil War]], Robles was on vacation in Spain. He supported the cause of the [[Second Spanish Republic|Spanish Republic]], but his independent and outspoken views brought him in conflict with the Soviet Union's emissaries, who were gaining increasing control of the Republican government. |
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In early 1937 Robles disappeared. The American left-wing journalist [[Josephine Herbst]], then on a visit to the Civil War front, found out that he had been arrested and shot as an alleged "spy for [[Francisco Franco|Francoists]]", and conveyed this information to [[Ernest Hemingway]] and Dos Passos who were in Madrid. The exact circumstances of his death were never clarified, and the charge of his having spied for the |
In early 1937 Robles disappeared. The American left-wing journalist [[Josephine Herbst]], then on a visit to the Civil War front, found out that he had been arrested and shot as an alleged "spy for [[Francisco Franco|Francoists]]", and conveyed this information to [[Ernest Hemingway]] and Dos Passos who were in Madrid. The exact circumstances of his death were never clarified, and the charge of his having spied for the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Nationalists]] was doubted. Rather, it was suggested that he was among many other left-wingers (for example, [[Andrés Nin]]) killed by Soviet [[NKVD]] agents, led by [[Aleksandr Mikhailovich Orlov|Alexander Orlov]], for their independent stance at the time. |
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In a letter to the editor published in ''[[The New Republic]]'' in July 1939, Dos Passos wrote that it was not until he reached Madrid (after having spent a week in [[Valencia]]) that he got what he called "definite information from the then chief of the Republican counter-espionage service that Robles had been executed by a 'special section' (which I gathered was under control of the Communist Party) … Spaniards I talked to closer to the Communist Party took the attitude that Robles had been shot as an example to other officials because he had been overheard indiscreetly discussing military plans in a cafe. The 'fascist spy' theory seems to be the fabrication of romantic American Communist sympathizers. I certainly did not hear it from any Spaniards."<ref>Carr (1984), p. 365.</ref> |
In a letter to the editor published in ''[[The New Republic]]'' in July 1939, Dos Passos wrote that it was not until he reached Madrid (after having spent a week in [[Valencia]]) that he got what he called "definite information from the then chief of the Republican counter-espionage service that Robles had been executed by a 'special section' (which I gathered was under control of the Communist Party) … Spaniards I talked to closer to the Communist Party took the attitude that Robles had been shot as an example to other officials because he had been overheard indiscreetly discussing military plans in a cafe. The 'fascist spy' theory seems to be the fabrication of romantic American Communist sympathizers. I certainly did not hear it from any Spaniards."<ref>Carr (1984), p. 365.</ref> |
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According to research by writer Stephen Koch, the real reason Robles was killed was that he had been the translator of [[Yan Karlovich Berzin]] |
According to research by writer Stephen Koch, the real reason Robles was killed was that he had been the translator of [[Yan Karlovich Berzin]], a senior Soviet military envoy to Spain who knew no Spanish. When Berzin disputed with Orlov about the relative priority to be given to preserving the military efficiency of Spanish Republican forces vs. conducting NKVD purges of Spanish Anarchists, [[POUM]] etc., and lost the favor of [[Stalin]] as a result, then Robles' knowledge of behind-the-scenes Soviet maneuverings in Spain became highly inconvenient to the Soviets.<ref>Koch (1994), pp. 283ff.</ref> |
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Robles' execution caused a total rift between Hemingway and Dos Passos, who were previously friends. Hemingway condoned the killing, as "necessary in time of war", while Dos Passos, embittered by the death of his friend, broke away from the left altogether and started his move to the political right. |
Robles' execution caused a total rift between Hemingway and Dos Passos, who were previously friends. Hemingway condoned the killing, as "necessary in time of war", while Dos Passos, embittered by the death of his friend, broke away from the left altogether and started his move to the political right. |
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Robles' last days before his disappearance are shown in a 2012 movie ''[[Hemingway & Gellhorn]]''. |
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{{Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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* [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/10/31/051031crbo_books?currentPage=all "The Spanish Prisoner"]. Stephen Koch, ''The Breaking Point: Hemingway, dos Passos, and the Murder of Jose Robles'', reviewed by George Packer. |
* [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/10/31/051031crbo_books?currentPage=all "The Spanish Prisoner"]. Stephen Koch, ''The Breaking Point: Hemingway, dos Passos, and the Murder of Jose Robles'', reviewed by George Packer. |
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*Martínez de Pisón, Ignacio (2005). ''Enterrar a los muertos'' (1st edition). Editorial Seix Barral (Spanish). |
*Martínez de Pisón, Ignacio (2005). ''Enterrar a los muertos'' (1st edition). Editorial Seix Barral (Spanish). |
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*Carr, Virginia (1984). ''Dos Passos: A Life''. New York: Doubleday & Co. |
*Carr, Virginia (1984). ''Dos Passos: A Life''. New York: Doubleday & Co. |
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*[Paul Preston|Preston, Paul]] (2008). ''We Saw Spain Die. Foreign Correspondents in the Spanish Civil War''. London: Constable. |
*[[Paul Preston|Preston, Paul]] (2008). ''We Saw Spain Die. Foreign Correspondents in the Spanish Civil War''. London: Constable. |
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*Koch, Stephen (1994). ''Double Lives: Spies and Writers in the Secret Soviet War of Ideas against the West''. ISBN |
*Koch, Stephen (1994). ''Double Lives: Spies and Writers in the Secret Soviet War of Ideas against the West''. {{ISBN|0-02-918730-3}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Robles, José}} |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British translator |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = 1897 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
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| DATE OF DEATH = 1937 |
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| PLACE OF DEATH = |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Robles, Jose}} |
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[[Category:1897 births]] |
[[Category:1897 births]] |
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[[Category:1937 deaths]] |
[[Category:1937 deaths]] |
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[[Category:People from Santiago de Compostela]] |
[[Category:People from Santiago de Compostela]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Spanish military personnel of the Spanish Civil War (Republican faction)]] |
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[[Category:Johns Hopkins University faculty]] |
[[Category:Johns Hopkins University faculty]] |
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[[Category:Galician translators]] |
[[Category:Galician translators]] |
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[[Category:Spanish military personnel]] |
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[[Category:English–Spanish translators]] |
[[Category:English–Spanish translators]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:20th-century translators]] |
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[[Category:Executed military personnel]] |
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[[Category:Executed Spanish people]] |
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[[Category:People killed by the Second Spanish Republic]] |
Latest revision as of 12:57, 3 October 2023
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Jos%C3%A9_Robles_-_Downtown%2C_unu%2C_nov_1928.jpg/360px-Jos%C3%A9_Robles_-_Downtown%2C_unu%2C_nov_1928.jpg)
José Robles Pazos (Santiago de Compostela, 1897–1937) was a Spanish writer, academic and independent left-wing activist. Born to an aristocratic family, Robles embraced left-wing views which forced him to leave Spain and go into exile in the United States.
Biography
[edit]In the 1920s, he was teaching at Johns Hopkins University and became a friend and Spanish language translator for writer John Dos Passos, who at the time also supported the radical left. His translation of Manhattan Transfer is still considered to be exemplary. He also translated some works of Sinclair Lewis.
At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Robles was on vacation in Spain. He supported the cause of the Spanish Republic, but his independent and outspoken views brought him in conflict with the Soviet Union's emissaries, who were gaining increasing control of the Republican government.
In early 1937 Robles disappeared. The American left-wing journalist Josephine Herbst, then on a visit to the Civil War front, found out that he had been arrested and shot as an alleged "spy for Francoists", and conveyed this information to Ernest Hemingway and Dos Passos who were in Madrid. The exact circumstances of his death were never clarified, and the charge of his having spied for the Nationalists was doubted. Rather, it was suggested that he was among many other left-wingers (for example, Andrés Nin) killed by Soviet NKVD agents, led by Alexander Orlov, for their independent stance at the time.
In a letter to the editor published in The New Republic in July 1939, Dos Passos wrote that it was not until he reached Madrid (after having spent a week in Valencia) that he got what he called "definite information from the then chief of the Republican counter-espionage service that Robles had been executed by a 'special section' (which I gathered was under control of the Communist Party) … Spaniards I talked to closer to the Communist Party took the attitude that Robles had been shot as an example to other officials because he had been overheard indiscreetly discussing military plans in a cafe. The 'fascist spy' theory seems to be the fabrication of romantic American Communist sympathizers. I certainly did not hear it from any Spaniards."[1]
According to research by writer Stephen Koch, the real reason Robles was killed was that he had been the translator of Yan Karlovich Berzin, a senior Soviet military envoy to Spain who knew no Spanish. When Berzin disputed with Orlov about the relative priority to be given to preserving the military efficiency of Spanish Republican forces vs. conducting NKVD purges of Spanish Anarchists, POUM etc., and lost the favor of Stalin as a result, then Robles' knowledge of behind-the-scenes Soviet maneuverings in Spain became highly inconvenient to the Soviets.[2]
Robles' execution caused a total rift between Hemingway and Dos Passos, who were previously friends. Hemingway condoned the killing, as "necessary in time of war", while Dos Passos, embittered by the death of his friend, broke away from the left altogether and started his move to the political right.
Robles' last days before his disappearance are shown in a 2012 movie Hemingway & Gellhorn.
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- "The Spanish Prisoner". Stephen Koch, The Breaking Point: Hemingway, dos Passos, and the Murder of Jose Robles, reviewed by George Packer.
- Martínez de Pisón, Ignacio (2005). Enterrar a los muertos (1st edition). Editorial Seix Barral (Spanish).
- Carr, Virginia (1984). Dos Passos: A Life. New York: Doubleday & Co.
- Preston, Paul (2008). We Saw Spain Die. Foreign Correspondents in the Spanish Civil War. London: Constable.
- Koch, Stephen (1994). Double Lives: Spies and Writers in the Secret Soviet War of Ideas against the West. ISBN 0-02-918730-3
- 1897 births
- 1937 deaths
- People from Santiago de Compostela
- Spanish military personnel of the Spanish Civil War (Republican faction)
- Johns Hopkins University faculty
- Galician translators
- Spanish military personnel
- English–Spanish translators
- 20th-century translators
- Executed military personnel
- Executed Spanish people
- People killed by the Second Spanish Republic