España
A Brief History of Spain
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- $31.99
Publisher Description
"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.
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.
