20 Best Books About Spain (2023 Update)

Dk eyewitness travel guides the most maps, photography, and illustrations of any guide. dk eyewitness travel guide: northern spain is your in-depth guide to the very best of northern spain. our eyewitness travel guide to northern spain is packed with culture and activities for travelers to enjoy. from local festivals and markets to site-seeing trips to the countryside, from day trips to nightlife, our guide to northern spain has everything you'll need to create a memorable trip on any budget. discover dk eyewitness travel guide: northern spain detailed itineraries and "don't miss" destination highlights at a glance. illustrated cutaway 3-d drawings of important sights. floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. area maps marked with sights. insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. hotel and restaurant listings highlight dk choice special recommendations. with hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, dk eyewitness travel guide: northern spain truly shows you northern spain as no one else can.

Medieval spain is brilliantly recreated, in all its variety and richness, in this comprehensive survey. likely to become the standard work in english, the book treats the entire iberian peninsula and all the people who inhabited it, from the coming of the visigoths in the fifth century to the reign of ferdinand and isabella. integrating a wealth of information about the diverse peoples, institutions, religions, and customs that flourished in the states that are now spain and portugal, joseph f. o'callaghan focuses on the continuing attempts to impose political unity on the peninsula.o'callaghan divides his story into five compact historical periods and discusses political, social, economic, and cultural developments in each period. by treating states together, he is able to put into proper perspective the relationships among them, their similarities and differences, and the continuity of development from one period to the next. he gives proper attention to spain's contacts with the rest of the medieval world, but his main concern is with the events and institutions on the peninsula itself. illustrations, genealogical charts, maps, and an extensive bibliography round out a book that will be welcomed by scholars and student of spanish and portuguese history and literature, as well as by medievalists, as the fullest account to date of spanish history in the middle ages.

Lonely planet's spain is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. launch into barcelona's nightlife, wander the stunning alhambra, and take your pick of pintxos in san sebastian; all with your trusted travel companion. get to the heart of spain and begin your journey now!

If you want to discover the captivating history of spain, then keep reading… throughout the centuries, spain has been subject to the lordship of other countries. it was occupied by the ancient greeks and romans, the visigoths, the french, and the muslims. it has been the playground of both the respectful and the ruthless. the spanish coasts have been occupied by the trading empires of carthage and rome. all that time, spain was told by others how to run their country, how to fight, whom to fight, and where to fight. they had one of the largest empires in the world-something history barely mentions-as they had acres of land in both north and south america, the caribbean, mesoamerica, and some islands in the mediterranean. evidence of spanish architecture dots the world. – yet spain was also a battlefield for countries fighting for other causes. they were sucked into wars fought by the carthaginians, romans, moors, visigoths, british, french, portuguese, dutch, and austrians, just to name a few. some of the most famous men in history traversed spanish soil, including hannibal barca, julius caesar, augustus, pompey, hadrian, vespasian, trajan, marcus aurelius, and napoleon. four roman emperors were born there, and augustus caesar spent his vacations there. pablo picasso was born in spain, while el greco moved there. – this book will examine the highs and lows of spanish history and will hopefully pique your interest in learning more about it. – rome entrenching – enter the germanic tribes and the muslims – bourbon spain – war of the third coalition, 1803-1806aftermath – rocky road to freedom – and much, much more! so if you want to learn more about history of spain, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button!

Vivid, powerful and absorbing, this is a first-person account of one of the most startling military episodes in history: the overthrow of montezuma's doomed aztec empire by the ruthless hernan cortes and his band of adventurers. the author was a soldier under cortes.

Attention travelers: you have found your ultimate travel guide to spain so, you want to go to spain? congratulations! you have come to the right place. spain was one of the most prolific sea-going countries in history. spain is a beautiful nation with 195,000 sq. miles of magnificent beaches, majestic mountains, and sophisticated cities. this book will take you on a memorable tour that you will cherish forever. in this book, i've curated the best of spain in my humble opinion so you will have the best 101 awesome things to do in this incredible travel destination. see it and enjoy it! the memories will give you all you really need to cherish for in life. great fun, great food, and great memories are on the itinerary. buckle up and let's go. this is the book for you… forget about all the other boring spain travel books… forget about the lifeless 1000 pages travel books that are overwhelmed with too much information and impossible to maneuver… forget about having to carry a giant, heavy 2 pounds travel book… forget about those non-sense… you need to spend your time enjoying your travel, not maneuvering over a giant heavy travel book!… as a true traveler myself who has been exclusively traveling around the world, and as a person who has traveled to spain, my only goal for this book is take give you an ultimate list of 101 things you must do in spain that you really need to know. after reading this book, you will know exactly what you need to do in spain. you will get the most out of your spain trip, easily, enjoyably and effortlessly… you know you need this book if you: interested in spain and want to know just about all the fun, the relevant information without bombarding with too much irrelevant all the major travel books out there are giving you. unsure about if you'll like to visit spain and want to find out if it's worth your travel trip and expense. having a friend who has traveled to spain and it's really annoying to hear them constantly bragging about how cool it is just looking around for the next travel suggestion just looking for a good read about the most beautiful place on earth with the most interesting culture any other reason you could think of, this book is still for you: ) let the real traveler show you what spain have to offer… let the real traveler who has been to spain be your personal tour guide… with this book, you will never get bored in spain… pick up this book, and welcome to spain!…

Featuring some of europe’s most beautiful cities, world-class heritage sites, lively nightlife, and lush landscapes, andalucía offers the best of spain in one magical region.make the most of your trip to this sun-drenched paradise with dk eyewitness top 10. planning is a breeze with our simple lists of ten, covering the very best that andalucía and the costa del sol have to offer and ensuring that you don’t miss a thing. best of all, the pocket-friendly format is light and easily portable; the perfect companion while out and about. our updated 2022 travel guide brings andalucia and the costa del sol to life. dk eyewitness top 10 andalucía and the costa del sol is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime. inside dk eyewitness top 10 andalucía and the costa del sol you will find: – up-to-date information with insider tips, and advice for staying safe- top 10 lists of andalucía and the costa del sol’s must-sees, including the alhambra, córdoba, the real alcázar, and ronda- andalucía and the costa del sol’s most interesting areas, with the best places for sightseeing, food and drink and shopping- themed lists, including the best hikes and drives, beaches, andalucían dishes, and much more- easy-to-follow itineraries, perfect for a day trip, a weekend, or a week- a laminated pull-out map of andalucía and the costa del sol, plus five full-color area mapstouring the country? dk eyewitness travel guides have been helping travellers to make the most of their breaks since 1993. filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual dk eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure.

Examines how spain has played a unique and pivotal role in western civilization. it has historically stood at a critical crossroad of geography, cultures, religions, ideas, trade, and more. spain's strategic location, through the centuries, has made it a magnet for multiple different peoples, and it has participated in and witnessed numerous major shifts, trends, and historical moments.

La épica y emocionante historia de una mujer cuya vida abarca los momentos históricos más relevantes del siglo xx.desde 1920 -con la llamada «gripe española»- hasta la pandemia de 2020, la vida de violeta será mucho más que la historia de un siglo. – violeta viene al mundo un tormentoso día de 1920, siendo la primera niña de una familia de cinco bulliciosos hermanos. desde el principio su vida estará marcada por acontecimientos extraordinarios, pues todavía se sienten las ondas expansivas de la gran guerra cuando la gripe española llega a las orillas de su país sudamericano natal, casi en el momento exacto de su nacimiento. – gracias a la clarividencia del padre, la familia saldrá indemne de esta crisis para darse de bruces con una nueva, cuando la gran depresión altera la elegante vida urbana que violeta ha conocido hasta ahora. su familia lo perderá todo y se verá obligada a retirarse a una región salvaje y remota del país. allí violeta alcanzará la mayoría de edad y tendrá su primer pretendiente… en una carta dirigida a una persona a la que ama por encima de todas las demás, violeta rememora devastadores desengaños amorosos y romances apasionados, momentos de pobreza y también de prosperidad, pérdidas terribles e inmensas alegrías. moldearán su vida algunos de los grandes sucesos de la historia: la lucha por los derechos de la mujer, el auge y caída de tiranos y, en última instancia, no una, sino dos pandemias. – vista con los ojos de una mujer poseedora de una pasión, una determinación y un sentido del humor inolvidables que la sostienen a lo largo de una vida turbulenta, isabel allende nos regala, una vez más, una historia épica furiosamente inspiradora y profundamente emotiva. – english descriptionthis sweeping novel from the new york times bestselling author of a long petal of the sea tells the epic story of violeta del valle, a woman whose life spans one hundred years and bears witness to the greatest upheavals of the twentieth century. violeta comes into the world on a stormy day in 1920, the first girl in a family of five boisterous sons. from the start, her life will be marked by extraordinary events, for the ripples of the great war are still being felt, even as the spanish flu arrives on the shores of her south american homeland almost at the moment of her birth. through her father’s prescience, the family will come through that crisis unscathed, only to face a new one as the great depression transforms the genteel city life she has known. her family loses all and is forced to retreat to a wild and beautiful but remote part of the country. there, she will come of age, and her first suitor will come calling… she tells her story in the form of a letter to someone she loves above all others, recounting devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, times of both poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy. her life will be shaped by some of the most important events of history: the fight for women’s rights, the rise and fall of tyrants, and, ultimately, not one but two pandemics. told through the eyes of a woman whose unforgettable passion, determination, and sense of humor will carry her through a lifetime of upheaval, isabel allende once more brings us an epic that is both fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional.

From bloodthirsty conquest to exotic romance, stereotypes of spain abound. this new volume by distinguished historian stanley g. payne draws on his half-century of experience to offer a balanced, broadly chronological survey of spanish history from the visigoths to the present. who were the first “spaniards”? is spain a fully western country? was spanish liberalism a failure? examining spain’s unique role in the larger history of western europe, payne reinterprets key aspects of the country’s history. topics include muslim culture in the peninsula, the spanish monarchy, the empire, and the relationship between spain and portugal. turning to the twentieth century, payne discusses the second republic and the spanish civil war. the book’s final chapters focus on the franco regime, the nature of spanish fascism, and the special role of the military. analyzing the figure of franco himself, payne seeks to explain why some spaniards still regard him with respect, while many others view the late dictator with profound loathing. framed by reflections on the author’s own formation as a hispanist and his evaluation of the controversy about “historical memory” in contemporary spain, this volume offers deeply informed insights into both the history and the historiography of a unique country. a choice outstanding academic book best books for general audiences, selected by the public library association

An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young and adult learners." i love olly's work – and you will too!" – barbara oakley, ph – d, author of new york times bestseller a mind for numbers – short stories in spanish for beginners has been written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly – enjoyment! mapped to a2-b1 on the common european framework of reference, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you, and give you a feeling of progress when reading. – what does this book give you? · eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller – making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary· controlled language at your level, including the 1000 most frequent words, to help you progress confidently· authentic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability· pleasure! it's much easier to learn a new language when you're having fun, and research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration – 'it's too hard!' 'i don't understand!' · accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way – carefully curated to make learning a new language easy, these stories include key features that will support and consolidate your progress, including· a glossary for bolded words in each text· a bilingual word list· full plot summary· comprehension questions after each chapter. as a result, you will be able to focus on enjoying reading, delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language, without ever feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. from science fiction to fantasy, to crime and thrillers, short stories in spanish for beginners will make learning spanish easy and enjoyable.

Hit spain's can't-miss art, sights, and bites in two weeks or less with rick steves best of spain! strategic advice from rick steves on what's worth your time and money – short itineraries covering barcelona, madrid, toledo, granada, andalucía's white hill towns, and sevilla – rick's tips for beating the crowds, skipping lines, and avoiding tourist traps – the best of local culture, flavors, and haunts, including insightful walks through museums, historic sights, and atmospheric neighborhoods – trip planning strategies like how to link destinations and design your itinerary, what to pack, where to stay, and how to get around – over 400 full-color pages with detailed maps and vibrant photos throughout – suggestions for side trips to montserrat and figueres, basque country, santiago de compostela, el escorial, segovia, salamanca, córdoba, and spain's south coast – experience spain's old world romance and new world excitement for yourself with rick steves best of spain! planning a longer trip? rick steves spain 2020 is the classic, in-depth guide to exploring the country, updated annually.

"a book of rich detail.”–the wall street journalbestselling 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. 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.

Spain's vibrancy and passion are brought alive in this colorful, comprehensive guide. filled with in-depth information and practical travel tips, it features experiential sidebars, insider tips from national geographic experts, cut-away illustrations, detailed maps (including street-by-street city maps), and sumptuous pictures. organized into chapters by cities and areas, it guides readers to madrid and its museums and nightlife, catalonia and valencia, basque country and the pyrenees, barcelona, castille, andalucia, the balearics and canaries, and to many lesser known places as well. an elaborate introduction to spanish history and culture provides context. special in-depth sidebars discuss spanish wines, gaudi and modernism, flamenco, and more; while guided tours include a drive among aragon's castles and around the mudejar towns, and a walk around madrid's enchanting plaza major. an extensive travel planner details practicalities, including where to find the most memorable posadas and best tapas.

How much do you know about spain? there's so much to learn about the largest country in the iberian peninsula that it could fill several books and you still wouldn't even know it all. in this trivia book, you'll learn several fascinating and fun facts about spain's history (ancient and modern), pop culture, geography, folklore, and so much more! in the great book of spain, you'll learn: what are the origins of the spanish language? what did hannibal and elephants have to do with early spanish history? who are some of spain's greatest and most influential artists? where are some of spain's most haunted locales? how did spain get its national flag? what are some of spain's top tourist spots? what are the most popular sports in mexico? what are spain's major industries? what is spain's most popular folk dance? and so much more! this book is packed with trivia facts about spain that will at times make you wonder and at other times freak you out. there is no doubt, though, that all of the facts in this book will fascinate you.whether you just have a passing interest in spain, or planning on visiting the country, or you already think you're an expert on the country, you are sure to learn something new on every page of this book. you will amaze not only yourself with your newfound knowledge about spain, but also your friends and family. so what are you waiting for? open the pages and get started learning more about spain!

Williams is an ideal introduction to one special nation's history and culture. after many years in print in europe, the second american edition (2009) has been published by golden era books. it features a chapter covering contemporary spain through 2008, 16 pages of color photos, and listings of top historical "sights and sites" for travelers. "the story of spain" is a highly readable one-volume treatment of hispanic culture and spain's mercurial history through the centuries. yet this "popular history" is based on years of scholarly research and is used in many university courses. professor emeritus paul smith of u.c.l.a. called it: "by far the best introduction for students in english to spain¿s history and culture, from its origins to the present day." williams earned an m.a. in history from the university of california and did further studies at the university of madrid. he lived in spain, working as a teacher and journalist, and his articles appeared in the "international herald tribune" and many other publications.

Williams is an ideal introduction to one special nation's history and culture. after many years in print in europe, the second american edition (2009) has been published by golden era books. it features a chapter covering contemporary spain through 2008, 16 pages of color photos, and listings of top historical "sights and sites" for travelers. "the story of spain" is a highly readable one-volume treatment of hispanic culture and spain's mercurial history through the centuries. yet this "popular history" is based on years of scholarly research and is used in many university courses. professor emeritus paul smith of u.c.l.a. called it: "by far the best introduction for students in english to spain¿s history and culture, from its origins to the present day." williams earned an m.a. in history from the university of california and did further studies at the university of madrid. he lived in spain, working as a teacher and journalist, and his articles appeared in the "international herald tribune" and many other publications.

Lonely planet's best of spain is your passport to spain's top sights and most authentic experiences. feast your eyes on fine-arts capital madrid; hike the spectacular ranges of the pyrenees; or take in some flamenco in quintessentially spanish seville, all with your trusted travel companion.

What happens in spain, among the euro zone's largest economies, matters. its high unemployment (over 26%), burgeoning public debt, and banking crisis will be formative for the zone's future. in spain: what everyone needs to know, a timely addition to oxford's acclaimed what everyone needs to knowseries, veteran journalist william chislett provides much-needed political and historical context for spain's current economic and political predicament. chislett recounts the country's fascinating and often turbulent history, beginning with the muslim conquest in 711 and ending with the nation's deep economic crisis, sparked by the spectacular collapse of its real estate and construction sectors in 2010. he explains the country's transition from dictatorship to democracy and covers such issues as the creation of a welfare state, the influx of immigrants, internal strife from the separatist catalan region, the effects of stringent austerity measures, the strengths and weaknesses of the economy, and how the country can create a more sustainable economic model for the future. in a concise, question-and-answer format that allows readers to quickly access areas of particular interest, the book addresses a wide range of questions, including: what was the legacy of the muslim presence between 711 and 1492? how did the spanish empire arise? what were the causes of the 1936-39 civil war? why did the socialists win a landslide victory in the 1982 election? what was the impact of european economic community membership? what is the violent basque separatist group eta? what caused the banking crisis? and more. this engaging overview covers a wide sweep of spanish history and helps readers understand spain's place in the world today.what everyone needs to know is a registered trademark of oxford university press.

What happens in spain, among the euro zone's largest economies, matters. its high unemployment (over 26%), burgeoning public debt, and banking crisis will be formative for the zone's future. in spain: what everyone needs to know, a timely addition to oxford's acclaimed what everyone needs to knowseries, veteran journalist william chislett provides much-needed political and historical context for spain's current economic and political predicament. chislett recounts the country's fascinating and often turbulent history, beginning with the muslim conquest in 711 and ending with the nation's deep economic crisis, sparked by the spectacular collapse of its real estate and construction sectors in 2010. he explains the country's transition from dictatorship to democracy and covers such issues as the creation of a welfare state, the influx of immigrants, internal strife from the separatist catalan region, the effects of stringent austerity measures, the strengths and weaknesses of the economy, and how the country can create a more sustainable economic model for the future. in a concise, question-and-answer format that allows readers to quickly access areas of particular interest, the book addresses a wide range of questions, including: what was the legacy of the muslim presence between 711 and 1492? how did the spanish empire arise? what were the causes of the 1936-39 civil war? why did the socialists win a landslide victory in the 1982 election? what was the impact of european economic community membership? what is the violent basque separatist group eta? what caused the banking crisis? and more. this engaging overview covers a wide sweep of spanish history and helps readers understand spain's place in the world today.what everyone needs to know is a registered trademark of oxford university press.