Matilde de la Torre: A feminist socialist in Republican Spain

Abstract

A staunch advocate of socialist, feminist and Republican politics, Matilde de la Torre remains an enigmatic, elusive figure on the landscape of critical literature on Republican Spain. After winning a seat for Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE) in the 1933 and 1936 elections, De la Torre dedicated her political career to defending trade unions, promoting women’s rights, denouncing war and fascism, and advocating for a democratic, Republican Spain. Throughout her lifetime, De la Torre published prolifically in the left-wing press and authored five book-length political commentaries, all of which dialogue with Spain’s tumultuous political structures and debates. The central themes of De la Torre’s career and output are outlined here, along with a discussion of recent scholarship.