in 1925 she married the english artist, historian and poet roland penrose (1900-1984) and joined the community of surrealists based in paris, mougins and england. the marriage was never consummated. valentine and her husband moved to spain in 1936 during the spanish civil war. in the same year she joined the workers militia in spain to defend the revolution. valentine and roland had different viewpoints on traditions in india, eastern thought, and philosophy, which all led to a growing distance between the two. they were divorced in 1937, but met again in london during the war, after which she lived half her time with her ex-husband and his second wife, the american photojournalist lee miller. this arrangement continued for the rest of her life.