"A book of rich detail."--The Wall Street Journal
Bestselling author of Ghosts of Spain Giles Tremlett traverses the
rich and varied history of Spain, from prehistoric times to today, in a
brief, accessible primer with color illustrations throughout.
Spain's position on Europe's southwestern corner has exposed the country
to cultural, political, and literal winds blowing from all quadrants
throughout the country's ancient history. Africa lies a mere nine miles
to the south, separated by the Strait of Gibraltar--a mountain range
struck, Spaniards believe, by Hercules, in an immaculate and divine
display of strength. The Mediterranean connects Spain to the
civilizational currents of Phoenicians, Romans, Carthaginians, and
Byzantines as well as the Arabic lands of the near east. Hordes from the
Russian steppes were amongst the first to arrive. They would be followed
by Visigoths, Arabs, and Napoleonic armies and many more invaders and
immigrants. Circular winds and currents extended its borders to the
American continent, allowing it to conquer and colonize much of the New
World as the first ever global empire. Spain, as we know it today, was
made by generations-worth of changing peoples, worshipping Christian,
Jewish, and Muslim gods over time. The foundation of its story has been
drawn and debated, celebrated and reproached. Whenever it has tried to
deny its heterogeneity and create a "pure" national identity, the
narrative has proved impossible to maintain.
In España, Giles Tremlett, who has lived in and written about Spain
for over thirty years, swiftly traces every stretch of Spain's history
to argue that a lack of a homogenous identity is Spain's defining trait.
With gorgeous color images, España is perfect for lovers of Spain and
fans of international history.
