Carnation Revolution Bundle: Volumes 1-2

Exclusive Bundle Deal: 30% Off

This two-volume set offers the definitive account of the Carnation Revolution—the peaceful military coup that ended over four decades of dictatorship in Portugal and initiated a new democratic era.

Volume 1: The Road to the Coup That Changed Portugal, 1974
Explores the deep political tensions and colonial entanglements that led to the April uprising. With Portugal mired in guerrilla wars across Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea, and internal unrest simmering, a group of disillusioned army captains began plotting to overthrow the regime. This volume provides crucial background on the Estado Novo dictatorship, the failed March coup attempt, the rise of General Spínola, and the widespread dissent within the armed forces. Richly illustrated with period photographs and specially commissioned artworks, it sets the stage for the events of 25 April.
Volume 2: Coup in Portugal, April 1974
A detailed, moment-by-moment narrative of the successful military coup on 25 April 1974. Within 24 hours, a coordinated movement of insurgent officers neutralised loyalist forces and surrounded Prime Minister Marcello Caetano, who surrendered power to General Spínola. The only significant resistance came from the political police, whose actions tragically resulted in four civilian deaths. As the military secured the capital, thousands of civilians poured into the streets of Lisbon, offering red carnations to soldiers—an enduring symbol of Portugal’s peaceful revolution. This volume vividly captures the atmosphere, strategy, and outcome of this pivotal day.
Together, these volumes chart how a military insurrection—sparked by colonial fatigue and internal dissent—triggered one of the most unique and bloodless transitions to democracy in modern European history.