El Generalísimo

Felipe Fernández-Armesto / Manuel Lucena Giraldo

"A richly researched account of the clever, industrious and deeply practical men who followed in the footsteps, often literally, of Columbus, Cortés, Pizarro, Núñez de Balboa and others."—Wall Street Journal The untold story of the engineering behind the empire, showing how imperial Spain built upon existing infrastructure and hierarchies of the Inca, Aztec, and more, to furth...

Luke Stegemann

The miraculous story of Madrid--how a village became a great world city For centuries Madrid was an insignificant settlement on the central Iberian plateau. Under its Muslim rulers the town was fortified and enlarged, but even after the Reconquista it remained secondary to nearby Toledo. But Madrid's fortunes dramatically shifted in the sixteenth century, becoming the centre...

Helen Crisp / Jules Stewart

This is the tale of Western Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city, a 3,000-year history of war and seafaring, culture and commerce, liberalism and resistance. Helen Crisp and Jules Stewart offer a vibrant account of Cádiz past and present, from its ancient founding myths to its reinvention as a trendy tourist destination. They illuminate Cádiz's experiences under Roman an...

Francisco J. Romero Salvadó

Using a wealth of varied sources, this book is an inspiring and essential gateway to understanding the foundations of modern Spain. Francisco J. Romero Salvadó employs a chronological framework to chart the country's experience, commencing with the Restoration of the Bourbon Monarch in 1874 up to the present day.Modern Spain is a vital contribution to the study and debate of th...

Michael. Reid

An incisive account of modern Spain, from the death of Franco to the Catalan referendum and beyond "Comprehensive and engaging."--Gideon Rachman, Financial Times Spain's transition to democracy after Franco's long dictatorship was widely hailed as a success, ushering in three decades of unprecedented progress and prosperity. Yet over the past decade its political consensus has...

Wayne H. Bowen

For Charles V and Philip II, both of whom expected to continue the momentum of the Reconquista into a campaign against Islam, the theology and political successes of Martin Luther and John Calvin menaced not just the possibility of a universal empire, but the survival of the Habsburg monarchy. Moreover, the Protestant Reformation stimulated changes within Spain and other Habsbu...

Giles Tremlett

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 sty...

Giles Tremlett

** Shortlisted for the Military History Matters Book of the Year Award ** 'Magnificent. Narrative history at its vivid and compelling best' Fergal Keane The first major history of the International Brigades: a tale of blood, ideals and tragedy in the fight against fascism. The Spanish Civil War was the first armed battle in the fight against fascism, and a rallying cry for a...

Giles Tremlett

1474. Castile was the largest, strongest, and most populous kingdom in Hispania-- and Isabella ascended the throne, a female ruler in a male-dominated world. Her marriage to Ferdinand of Aragon not only united their kingdoms, but began a royal partnership in which Isabella more than held her own. Tremlett chronicles Isabella's colorful life as she led her country out of the Mid...

Giles Tremlett

The first biography exploring both Francisco Franco's life and the enduring legacy of Francoism Supported by his allies, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco rose to power by defeating the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War that lasted from 1936 to 1939. Yet while Hitler and Mussolini did not survive World War II, Franco remained Spain's strongman ruler until hi...

Giles Tremlett

A short history of Spain from prehistoric times to today - from the author of Ghosts of Spain. Spain's position on Europe's south-western corner has exposed it to cultural, political, and actual winds that blow from all quadrants. Africa is a mere nine miles to the south across the Strait of Gibraltar. The Mediterranean connects it to the civilizational currents of Phoenicians...

Giles Tremlett

A short history of Spain from prehistoric times to today - from the author of Ghosts of Spain. Spain's position on Europe's south-western corner has exposed it to cultural, political, and actual winds that blow from all quadrants. Africa is a mere nine miles to the south across the Strait of Gibraltar. The Mediterranean connects it to the civilizational currents of Phoenicians...