Episode 1

In 1936 Eric and Eileen Blair were making ends meet by running a small village shop in Wallington and growing vegetables. Eric had recently sent 'The Road to Wigan Pier' to Victor Gollancz, hoping it would be published. But then news came from Spain that Franco's Nationalists had risen up against the elected Republican government.

In the first of a two-part autobiographical account, Eric decides to go to Spain - not just to record the struggle but to fight the Fascists. Unusually tall, and with size 12 feet, he immediately stood out amongst the locals. He joined a badly organised and ill equipped militia, armed with dud bombs and rusty guns.

It was a decision that would nearly cost him his life, and produce one of the most vivid accounts of the Spanish Civil War.

Adapted by Mike Walker.

Eric Blair ...... Joseph Millson
Eileen Blair ...... Lyndsey Marshal
Georges Kopp ...... Ewan Bailey
Spanish volunteer ...... Javier Marzan
Jack Hywel ...... John
Henry Miller ...... Richard Laing
John McNair ...... John McAndrew
Benjamin ...... Jon Lolis
Idris ...... Ben McGregor
Tom Gallagher ...... Gareth Pierce
Fascist soldier ...... Asier Newman

Director: Kate McAll

A BBC/Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in June 2013.