España: a Brief History of Spain
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- USD 12.99
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- USD 12.99
Descripción editorial
Bestselling author Giles Tremlett traverses the rich and varied history of Spain, from prehistoric times to today, in a brief, accessible primer for visitors, curious readers and hispanophiles.
'Tremlett is a fascinating socio-cultural guide, as happy to discuss Spain's World Cup win as its Moorish rule' Guardian
'Negotiates Spain's chaotic history with admirable clarity and style' The Times
Spain's position on Europe's south-western corner has exposed it to cultural, political and actual winds blowing from all quadrants. Africa lies a mere nine miles to the south. The Mediterranean connects it to the civilizational currents of Phoenicians, Romans, Carthaginians, and Byzantines as well as the Arabic lands of the near east. Bronze Age migrants from the Russian steppe were amongst the first to arrive. They would be followed by Visigoths, Arabs, Napoleonic armies and many more invaders and immigrants. Circular winds and currents linked it to the American continent, allowing Spain to conquer and colonize much of it.
As a result, Spain has developed a sort of hybrid vigour. Whenever it has tried to deny this inevitable heterogeneity, it has required superhuman effort to fashion a 'pure' national identity – which has proved impossible to maintain. In España, Giles Tremlett argues that, in fact, that lack of a homogenous identity is Spain's defining trait.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Historian Tremlett (Ghosts of Spain) surveys Spain from ancient times to the Covid-19 pandemic in this brisk and informative account. Contending that Spain "has struggled constantly to fuse together a fractured soul," Tremlett documents the region's early history as a nexus where Christianity, Islam, and Judaism coexisted but contends that religious tolerance "was never as consistent or harmonious as it is frequently depicted." The marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragón in 1469 brought their separate kingdoms into "something that, at least geographically, looks much like modern Spain," but their rule also gave rise to the Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of Jews and Muslims. Documenting the sweep of Spanish conquistadors through North and South America in the 16th century, Tremlett contends that "Empire... helped unite Spain, not least because so many Spaniards could share in the project of despoiling it." Tensions caused by Spain's multiple national identities continued to provoke conflicts, however, including the three Carlist wars in the 19th century and Gen. Francisco Franco's military coup in 1936. Alongside the geopolitical events, Tremlett spotlights cultural figures including Miguel de Cervantes and painters Velázquez and Goya. Tremlett packs a ton of information into a concise package, though the lack of a narrative through line sometimes makes for a choppy reading experience. Still, this is an accessible introduction to Spain's multifaceted history. Illus.
