Historian José Bernal Unveils New Book in Málaga
Historian and former mayor of Marbella, José Bernal, unveiled his new book, “Reivindicando (a) Esperanza” in Málaga on Wednesday evening. Published by Ediciones Algorfa, the book aims to revive the largely unknown figure of Esperanza Puerta Caballero, a socialist councilwoman during the Second Republic.
Book Launch at Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País
The event took place at the headquarters of the Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País, where Bernal’s research on the persecuted socialist councilwoman of Málaga was presented. The author explained that the book is a “claim of a character silenced by history” and also a representation of “women in society”.
Historical Research up to 1947
The history that Bernal has been able to compile goes up to 1947, when Caballero’s trace was definitively lost. He expressed his hope that with the news about the book, some of her descendants, whom he has been unable to locate, may appear and continue the narrative.
Esperanza Puerta: Málaga’s First Democratic Councilwoman
Bernal pointed out that “no one had heard of Esperanza Puerta”, who was the first councilwoman of the Málaga City Council in democracy. Before her, there was another during the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, Teresa Azpiazu y Paul, who also has a street named after her in the capital of Málaga.
Rescuing a Forgotten Figure
Bernal was motivated to tell her story and rescue her from oblivion, and began to investigate the figure of this woman persecuted by Francoism. Esperanza Puerta Caballero was a councilwoman in Málaga between March 1936 and February 1937, the latter date when fascist troops entered the city.
Details of Caballero’s Life
The book narrates her arrest, the court-martial, and her passage through various prisons until she was released on parole. According to Bernal, the protagonist of this story was born on November 1, 1899, into a socialist family, daughter of Pedro Puerta, “another unknown who demands his own story”.
Family’s Contribution to Socialism
Some of her relatives contributed to the establishment of the PSOE in Vélez-Málaga and the Axarquía region. Her husband, Humberto Herrero, was a notable socialist and trade unionist.
Arrest and Imprisonment
After the fall of Málaga into the hands of the nationalists, and perhaps after fleeing to Valencia, both were arrested upon returning to Málaga on May 11, 1939. They entered the Provincial Prison of Málaga, a very harsh place, especially for “red” women.
Conditional Release and Subsequent Oblivion
Shortly after, the court-martial began, with the usual summary procedures, and they were sentenced to thirty years of major imprisonment, equivalent to life imprisonment. Esperanza ended up in the Provincial Prison of Pamplona while her husband was in the Cáceres prison. On March 2, 1944, she achieved conditional release at the age of 46 and after serving 5 years, 2 months, and 29 days in prison. She settled in Málaga and was also condemned to oblivion as nothing more was known about her until now.