Pío Moa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pío Moa
Born	1948 Vigo, Galicia, Spain
Occupation	Journalist
Subject	20th century
Notable works	Myths of the Civil War

Luis Pío Moa Rodríguez (born in Vigo, Galicia, in 1948), known simply as Pío Moa, is a Spanish writer and journalist. He writes historical essays, which are detailed articles or books about history. His works often focus on important periods in Spanish history. These include the start of the Spanish Civil War, the time of the Second Spanish Republic, and the period known as Francoism. He also writes about different political groups from those times.

After the death of Francisco Franco and the return of democracy in Spain, many historical documents became available. Pío Moa began to share ideas similar to those from the Francoist era. He suggested that certain political groups, like the Popular Front, were mainly responsible for the Spanish Civil War. He also believed they contributed to the rise of a one-party government in Spain. Moa argues that these groups left a lasting negative impact. He also claims that the help given by Stalin and the Soviet Union to the Second Spanish Republic during the Civil War made the conflict last longer. He believes this aid caused many deaths and was similar to the help Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy gave to General Franco.

Pío Moa's writings often discuss these strong opinions. This has made him very well-known in Spain and has also led to some disagreements. His book, Myths of the Civil War, sold over 150,000 copies. It was a top-selling book for six months in a row.

About Pío Moa's Life

His Early Years and Political Views

Pío Moa was born in 1948 in Vigo, a city in Galicia, Spain. When he was young, he was strongly against the government of Franco. He was a member of the Communist Party of Spain. He also joined a secret group called GRAPO, which was known for its strong opposition to the government. This group had confrontations with the government's forces.

In 1977, Pío Moa left GRAPO. He later wrote about this time in his book, About Time and a Country: The Violent Left. After Spain became a democracy, Moa started studying modern Spanish history. Over time, his political ideas changed. He began to support views that were more aligned with the Francoist period.

His Ideas and Writings

Pío Moa's opinions gradually became more conservative. He often criticizes the Spanish political left. He believes they were a main cause of the Spanish Civil War.

He has also written books about other topics. These include essays on Feminism, Marxism, and current Spanish politics. He also wrote a book about his own experiences in the group GRAPO. In his books, he strongly criticizes the communist, socialist, and nationalist groups that were rivals of Franco.

Some historians do not agree with Pío Moa's historical ideas. They sometimes refer to him as a "pseudo-historian." However, historian Stanley G. Payne has praised some parts of Moa's work, even if he doesn't agree with everything.

Pío Moa has been seen by some as a supporter of Franco's government. In an interview in 2008, he said he would not condemn Franco's rule. However, he states in his books that he does not defend the dictatorship itself. Instead, he focuses on criticizing the groups that opposed Franco.

He used to be the editor of historical magazines like Tanteos (from 1988 to 1990) and Ayeres (from 1991 to 1993). He also worked as a librarian at the Ateneo de Madrid. This is a well-known cultural and literary center in Madrid. He was on its board of directors for three years.

Today, he writes for online newspapers, such as Libertad Digital.

Images for kids

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  Pío Moa signing books at the Madrid Book Fair in 2010.

See also

In Spanish: Pío Moa para niños