Spain
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3.7 • 3 Ratings
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- £6.49
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- £6.49
Publisher Description
Spain is one of the absolutes. Nothing is more compelling than the drama, at once dark and dazzling, of that theatre over the hills - the vast splendour of the Spanish landscape, the intensity of Spain's pride and misery, the adventurous glory of a history that set its seal upon half the world . . .
Passionate, evocative and beautifully written, Spain is a companion to the country: its people, its history - and its character. First published in 1964 and no less compelling today, Jan Morris's classic work is back in print, bringing Spain, its glory and its tragedy, vividly to life.
Jan Morris's collection of travel writing and reportage spans over five decades and includes such titles as Venice, Coronation Everest, Hong Kong, Spain, Manhattan '45, A Writer's World and the Pax Britannica Trilogy.Hav, her novel, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the Arthur C. Clarke Award.
'The most evocative book ever written about Spain.' Independent
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Originally published in 1964 when the author was still known as James Morris and somewhat revised in 1979, Spain is here reissued in a fussily designed edition. Despite the fact that it portrays the country at the point when it was about to emerge from its decades-long domination by Franco, Morris's textdiscussing landscape, legend, history, religion and architecturestands up well; but, set in small type and a long line measure, it is difficult to read. The striking illustrations, reminiscent of Miro, that decorate chapter openings and the 10 ill-chosen, sentimentally realistic paintings by various Spanish artists clash with Cecilia Eales's pleasant, washed-out watercolors with their handwritten captions.
Customer Reviews
Evocative but more a guide book
I loved reading this book and it gives a feeling of Spain up until 1975. But it is very lopsided and concentrates almost exclusively on catholicism and it's architectural heritages. It has inspired me to tour more, but I feel this is more a guide book for those interested in a splattering of history. Jan's vocabulary is impressive, and in particular her ecclesiastical knowledge and I found I needed a dictionary constantly at hand. The intro is overly excessive in sentence structure and syntax, but on the ehole it is written in an engaging and intelligent manner. I HIGHLY recommend reading this little book for all it's caveats.