Additional information
by Manu de la Sota (Author), Maitena Iragorri (Editor), Teresa Boucher (Translator)
Manu de la Sota's diary of his trip to the American West - written as a member of the Basque Government in exile in New York - is now translated into English.De la Sota traveled in December 1938 to Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon to solicit support for an independent Basque State in the Basque diaspora of the U.S, accompanied by Antonio de Irala. At a moment of violent oppression in Europe, defined by defeat in the civil war and political exile, de la Sota discovered hundreds of Basques who, although geographically distant from the home country, continued their traditions and identifications with Basque culture as they also became Americans.In the daily record of this visionary politician and thinker, his encounters with America and its Basque communities emerge as the documentation of everyday life and insightful, often humorous reflections on culture: who we are, where we come from, what defines us, and the political and other ideas that shape our lives.
This illustrated edition of the travel diary is supplemented by de la Sota's texts documenting Gernika, his speeches to the Basques of the Far West that were broadcast on the radio and published in the Boise newspaper, and various letters and reports written for the Basque Government in exile. It is an entertaining and informative snapshot of an important moment in Basque and Basque diaspora history, of interest to general readers and scholars seeking a better understanding of the Basque experience in the early 20th century western U.S. on the cusp of the Second World War.
Author Biography
The son of businessman Ramón de la Sota, Manu studied law at Cambridge and, leaving his family's business behind, devoted his best efforts to Basque culture and the independence movement.
During Alfonso XIII's dictatorship, he was one of the leading figures of the Mendigoxale movement, publishing articles under the pseudonym "Txanka" in the weekly newspaper Jagi-Jagi. He was also one of the main promoters of popular Basque theater during the years of the Republic.
During the Civil War, Manu, who had been president of Athletic Bilbao soccer team,was one of the promoters of the Basque National Team that traveled around the world in those dark days. He also organised the Eresoinka choir, which toured numerous cities in Europe promoting Basque music, dance and culture. In 1938, he participated in the establishment of the Basque Delegation in New York, where he worked as a delegate until the late 1940s.
