The two most important and impartial accounts of the Spanish Civil War are Orwell's Homage to Catalonia and Borkenau's The Spanish Cockpit. Borkenau went to Spain before Orwell, however and gives details from almost the beginning of the war, including the first riots and fighting in Barcelona . Orwell arrived in Spain in December of 1936 and covers the Zaragosa front as well as the May fighting in Barcelona. Both authors can be counted upon for unbiased reporting.