501 Spanish Verbs  •  Christopher Kendris LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2003 •  PAPER  • 600 PAGES The perennial favorite among students of Spanish, revised with a bonus CD-ROM. Organized alphabetically, each of the often irregular verbs gets its own page -- complete with all the verb tenses, examples and common idioms. The book is both a reference for Spanish speakers and a tool for beginners. Por que no hay como hablar Espanol sin verbos. O algo asi. (GEN134, $16.99)
The Age of the Baroque in Portugal  •  Jay A. Levenson ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1993 •  HARD COVER  • 303 PAGES A catalog from a 1993-1994 exhibit of the greatest works of art from Portugal's 18th-century Golden Age. Each piece of art is illustrated in a color photograph and given a short description. The book also contains a series of informative essays on the period. (PGL21, $80.00)
All-Audio Spanish  •  Irvin Stern LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  1997 •  CASETTE TAPE A Spanish course on cassette tape. (SPN134, $29.95)
The Ancient Mediterranean  •  Michael Grant CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1990 •  PAPER  • 374 PAGES Grant, a well known classical scholar, draws on archaeology, geography, art, and economics to paint a vivid picture of ancient cultures, from prehistory through the Roman Imperium, and their influence on western civilization. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs, and 19 maps of the region. (MED10, $18.00)
Aragon Cataluna (Northeast Spain) Map  •  Michelin MAP A travel map of northeastern Spain at a scale 1:400,000. With good topographic detail, it covers from Pamplona to the eastern Mediterranean Coast and south to Valencia. (SPN112, $8.95)
Art Spaces, GuggenheimBilbao  •  Francis Rambert ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 81 PAGES A pocket-sized book, featuring 75 color illustrations of the design, construction, interiors and exteriors of Gehry's extraordinary titanium-clad museum. (SPN151, $7.95)
The Arts in Spain, From Prehistory to Modernism  •  John Moffit ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES From the cave painting at Altimira through the Golden Age, to the works of Picasso and Miro, this book documents the course of art in Spain, encompassing painting, decorative arts and architecture. It's a thoughtful, wide-ranging survey with 180 well-integrated illustrations, 50 in color. (SPN102, $18.95)
Baltasar and Blimunda  •  Jose Saramago LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 343 PAGES This tale of two unlikely lovers in Inquisition-era Portugal is arguably Saramago's masterwork: a philosophically charged, intellectually rigorous historical drama which is also a captivating read. Domenico Scarlatti, King Joao V and Bartolmeu Lourenco, a Franciscan inventor-scientist who converted to Judaism, all appear in these pages, as Saramago weaves from their histories a new and serious folktale. (PGL26, $15.00)
Barcelona  •  Warner Home Video CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1995 •  DVD Not a travelogue of the sites of Barcelona, but an acclaimed comedy by Whit Stilman featuring American expatriates living in Barcelona and drinking up the night life. (SPN64, $19.95)
Barcelona  •  Robert Hughes HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 570 PAGES • FAVORITE A masterful cultural history of the city, from its days as a Roman outpost to the present. Thoroughly enjoyable, this book takes a comprehensive look at the architecture, art, religion and literature of this great Catalan city and its surroundings. With 180 photographs. (SPN01, $18.95)
Barcelona Map  •  Borch Maps 2005 •  MAP A detailed map of Barcelona at a scale of 1:11,000, laminated and folded for easy reference. (SPN105, $7.95)
The Basque History of the World  •  Mark Kurlansky HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Popular author Mark Kurlansky offers an engaging portrait of the seven provinces of Basqueland, discussing everything from language to culinary heritage and seafaring traditions. It's a spirited, impressionistic history with a firm focus on the international contributions of the Basques and chapters on events such as the Spanish Civil War. (SPN116, $15.00)
Basque-English Dictionary and Phrasebook  •  Joseph Conroy LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  1998 •  PAPER  • 206 PAGES A shirt-pocket guide to the Basque language, useful for travelers to Northern Spain and Southwest France. (SPN128, $11.95)
Blindness  •  Jose Saramago  •  Giovanni Pontiero LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 327 PAGES A Nobel Prize-winning novel from the acclaimed Portuguese novelist, Jose Saramago. In this challenging and disturbing allegory, an epidemic of "white blindness" strikes an anonymous city, preventing an entire society from seeing -- except for one woman. As more and more people fall victim to the blindness, chaos, anarchy and terror roam the city's streets, revealing a terrible side of human nature. (PGL19, $15.00)
Blood Wedding  •  Ted Hughes  •  Garcia Lorca LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES The tragic story a woman loved by two men, and the impact on a rural Spanish community, a 20th-century classic, lyrically translated by poet Ted Hughes. Hughes's captivating version of the play premiered at the Young Vic Theatre, London, in September 1996. (SPN161, $11.00)
Blue Guide Portugal  •  Ian Robertson GUIDEBOOK •  1996 •  PAPER  • 335 PAGES A compact travel guide with a focus on art, architecture and history. With suggested routes, driving instructions, and 20 maps. (PGL20, $19.95)
Boundaries, The Making of France and Spain in the Pyrenees  •  Peter Sahlins HISTORY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 351 PAGES A learned, provocative study of the frontier of France and Spain -- and the struggles between national and cultural identities in the Pyrennes. It's a scholarly work focused on Cerdanya, but also an authoritative and informative overview of what happened when Catalon was arbitrarily split between France and Spain in 1659. (SPN154, $26.95)
Bracebridge Hall, Tales of a Traveller, the Alhambra  •  Washington Irving LITERATURE •  1991 •  HARD COVER  • 1104 PAGES This collection of Irving's writing, published by the Library of America, is the only book in print that contains "The Alhambra," his romantic account of travels in Southern Spain. (SPN45, $40.00)
Bradt Guide Canary Islands  •  Lucy Corne GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 342 PAGES A comprehensive guide in the popular Bradt series by a Las Palmas resident and journalist. With city and town plans and in-depth coverage of destinations throughout the archipelago. (CNY06, $21.95)
Bread and Oil, Majorcan Culture's Last Stand  •  Tomas Graves CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES An appreciative account of peasant traditions, especially food, in rural Majorca. Author Tomas Graves, the son of Robert Graves, was raised on the Spanish island. (SPN179, $24.95)
The Buried Mirror  •  Carlos Fuentes CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1999 •  PAPER  • 399 PAGES A fascinating, illustrated survey of Latin American culture and history by the great Mexican author Carlos Fuentes. With hundreds of color illustrations. Fuentes hosted a television series by the same name. (SPN71, $29.95)
Cadogan Guide Andalucia  •  Dana Facaros GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 344 PAGES A practical region-by-region guide in the British series, with good maps as well as introductory chapters on the history and culture of Southern Spain and Andalucia. (SPN14, $18.95)
Cadogan Guide Madeira & Porto Santo  •  Cadogan Guide GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES A guidebook in the respected British Cadogan series, this comprehensive look at Madeira and Porto Santo provides insightful cultural and historical background, and up-to-date practical information. The heart of the book contains region-by-region descriptions aimed at the well read traveler. With some illustrations and excellent maps. (SPN21, $19.95)
Cadogan Guide Northern Spain  •  Dana Farcos GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES • COMING IN MARCH A compact guide to northern Spain, including Santiago de Campostela, Bilbao and Barcelona, in the popular British series. With details on attractions along with a good overview of culture and history. (SPN113, $21.95)
The Camino, A Journey of the Spirit  •  Shirley MacLaine RELIGION •  2001 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES A book for anyone who enjoyed reading MacLaine's "Out on a Limb" while seated among the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu. In this newest journey, the much-reincarnated, ever-brave entertainer treks 500-miles across France and Northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela on the centuries-old Way of St. James. In her hallmark style, MacLaine interweaves travelogue, commentary, past lives and journeys both actual and interior in this personal journal. She's a tough woman, spending 30 days on the road, sleeping in hostels en route. (SPN127, $14.95)
Canary Islands Map  •  Nelles MAP A fine map of the Canary Islands, both Gran Canaria and Tenerife, at a scale of 1:180,000, featuring colorful shaded relief. (SPN43, $9.95)
Companion Guide Madrid and Central Spain  •  Alastair Boyd GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 480 PAGES A literate, comprehensive guide to Madrid and the surrounding areas of Segovia, Salamanca, Toledo and Avila. Organized geographically, it takes the form of a walking and driving guide with the narrative occasionally interrupted by maps and black-and-white photographs. Rather old fashioned and with a distnctive voice, this guide is well worth the effort. Boyd makes an excellent traveling companion. (SPN24, $34.95)
Dali  •  Ignacio Gomez De Liano ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1984 •  HARD COVER  • 128 PAGES A beautifully illustrated overview of Dali's work. This oversize book features an introductory essay, a chronology, and then more than 100 well reproduced color illustrations of his major works. (SPN77, $29.95)
Dali  •  Dawn Ades ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1995 •  PAPER A compelling, thoroughly illustrated overview of Dali's art by a leading Dali scholar. The book features a thorough discussion of the Dali phenomenon, as well as close analysis of a number of major works. It's a fine companion for a trip to the Dali Museum in Figueres. (SPN59, $16.95)
Divided Soul, A Journey Through the Secular and Religious in Hispanic Life  •  David Alan Harvey CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 176 PAGES A culmination of a photographer's two decade quest to capture the Hispanic spirit on film from its Spanish roots to its diaspora in the New World. (SPN191, $49.95)
Don Quixote  •  Miguel de Cervantes  •  John Rutherford LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 1072 PAGES This quintessential Spanish novel is the most famous work in Spanish literature. A parody of romance and chivalry, it is also one of the most entertaining adventure stories ever. Written in the 17th century, but rendered in this Penguin Classics edition into a lively, modern English, it is the picaresque tale of a romantic, mad gentleman who imagines himself a knight errant. The book revolutionized the art of fiction, influenced literary and philosophical trends, and has inspired other masterpieces including operas and ballets. (SPN23, $12.00)
Don Quixote  •  Miguel de Cervantes  •  Edith Grossman LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 976 PAGES The 400-year-old landmark novel (the most famous work in Spanish literature) in a sparkling new translation. Edith Grossman (better known for her translations of contemporary masters like Gabriel Garcia Marquez) aims for uninflected, accessible prose, dumping the quaint, old-fashioned tone and mock-chivalry of earlier translations. Fear not, it's an absorbing tale, and quite funny. This sparkling translation into lively, modern English makes the story of a mad romantic and his sidekick even more entertaining. (SPN211, $16.95)
Don Quixote's Delusions, Travels in Castilian Spain  •  Miranda France TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 243 PAGES An impressionistic, entertaining account of travels and history, wrapped with an homage to the master Cervantes and his creation. (SPN181, $14.95)
Driving over Lemons, An Optimist in Andalucia  •  Chris Stewart BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Earthier than "A Year in Provence," Chris Stewart's memoir about moving with his wife to farm in Alpujarras is charming and insightful. Unlike many expatriates, Stewart manages to ground himself far enough into the community to make lasting friends--as well as a home for his young daughter. Recommended by Tahir Shah. (SPN135, $13.95)
El Greco  •  John Elliott  •  David Davies  •  Gabriele Finaldi ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES The catalogue for a traveling exhibit on El Greco, this is the most comprehensive survey of the artist to come along in years, covering both his painting and his sculpture. (SPN201, $65.00)
The End of Days, A Story of Tolerance, Tyranny, and the Expulsion of the Jews from Spain  •  Erna Paris HISTORY •  1995 •  HARD COVER  • 327 PAGES Paris, a highly regarded Canadian writer and journalist, tells the story of the dramatic changes in Spanish society as a pluralist and tolerant society gave way to the dark days of the Spanish Inquisition. In the latter part of the book, she draws parallels of that time with current events in Europe and North America. (SPN56, $39.00)
Eyewitness Guide Barcelona & Catalonia  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES A superbly illustrated, compact guide to the city and environs, featuring 500 photographs and dozens of full color maps, site plans and building diagrams. It also includes a select listing the hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars, and shops. One short chapter covers Girona, Tarragona, Figueres and other attractions throughout Catalonia. Excellent. (SPN121, $20.00)
Eyewitness Guide Canary Islands  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES This compact, visually appealing guide features excellent short essays on the history, nature and attractions of the islands, color photographs and many maps. (CNY05, $20.00)
Eyewitness Guide Lisbon  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A compact illustrated guide to the city featuring excellent neighborhood maps, and hundreds of color photographs. It also includes chapters on the surrounding areas and Lisbon coast. With select listings of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels. (PGL04, $20.00)
Eyewitness Guide Madrid  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES This superb guide features bright color photography, dozens of excellent maps and a synopsis of the attractions in and around Madrid. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (SPN122, $20.00)
Eyewitness Guide Seville and Andalusia  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES This wonderfully organized and visually rich guide features outstanding maps, essays on culture, history and geography and a practical block-by-block guide to Seville. (SPN15, $23.00)
Eyewitness Guide Spain  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 720 PAGES This superb, colorful guide covers all of Spain. It features bright photography, dozens of excellent maps and a region-by-region synopsis of the country's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (SPN05, $30.00)
Eyewitness Spanish Phrase Book & Audio Casette  •  Eyewitness Guides LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2000 •  CASETTE TAPE  • 144 PAGES A 114-page phrasebook and 90-minute audio cassette geared for the traveler with an interest in learning key everyday phrases. It's no language course but for anyone wanting to master a limited vocabulary, it will do the trick. The english translation is spoken before each word. (SPN147, $9.95)
Farewell Espana, The World of the Sephardim Remembered  •  Howard Morley Sachar HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 439 PAGES A history of Spanish Jews by a well known scholar. Sachar covers not only the rise, persecution, and expulsion of the Spanish Jews, but also their dispersion to new communities across Europe and in the Americas. (SPN57, $20.00)
The Fencing Master  •  Arturo Perez-Reverte MYSTERY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 244 PAGES In 19th-century Madrid, against a backdrop of revolution and Bourbon excess, a fencing master falls for a mysterious swordswoman. Perez-Reverte's fifth book is an atmospheric literary thriller. (SPN180, $14.00)
Fodor's Barcelona's 25 Best  •  Fodors GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES A shirt-pocket guide to Barcelona, this slim book includes an excellent map of the center of the city and essential information on its highlights, including restaurant recommendations and sightseeing -- all in a slipcover. (SPN136, $11.95)
Fodor's Madrid's 25 Best  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES This slim guide includes an excellent pull-out map of the center of Madrid and essential information on its highlights, including restaurant recommendations and sightseeing. (SPN172, $11.95)
For Whom the Bell Tolls  •  Ernest Hemingway LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 471 PAGES This great novel of the Spanish Civil War centers around four days in the life of a young American in the International Brigades attached to an anti-fascist guerrilla unit in the mountains. One of the best war novels of all time, this is the story of love and loyalty, courage, and the tragic death of an ideal. (SPN19, $15.00)
Frank O. Gehry Guggenheim Bilbao Museoa  •  Ralph Richter  •  Kurt Forster ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 56 PAGES A photographic tribute to Gehry's architectural masterpiece, the Guggenheim Bilbao, with an introductory essay by Kurt Forster, a selection of floor plans and full-page color photographs of the museum. The photographs show the museum in context along the river, exteriors and interiors. (SPN103, $39.00)
Frank O. Gehry, The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao  •  Coosje Van Bruggen  •  Frank O. Gehry ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 208 PAGES • COMING IN A beautifully illustrated testimonial to the celebrated architecture of the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, covering not only the finished building but documenting the process from idea to reality. Published by the Guggenheim. (SPN52, $55.00)
From El Greco to Goya, Painting in Spain 1561-1828  •  Janis Tomlinson ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 170 PAGES • COMING IN This is an excellent volume on the Golden Age of painting in Spain, culminating with an extended chapter on Francisco Goya, last of the great masters. With 100 color illustrations, a chronology and insightful text, it evokes the splendor of Spain and the glorious artists it produced including Rubens, El Greco, Velasquez, Zuraban, Murillo and others. (SPN30, $24.95)
Gardens, Landscape, and Vision in the Palace of Islamic Spain  •  D. Fairchild Ruggles ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES Spain's Moorish legacy is nowhere more evident than in its graceful Islamic architecture and sumptuous gardens. Featuring color photographs and black and white illustrations, this scholarly book offers a critical assessment of the gardens and their meaning in the Spanish landscape throughout history. (SPN170, $36.00)
The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral  •  Robert A. Scott ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES Scott, whose interest in the history of cathedrals began when he first saw the magnificent Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Salisbury, England, takes his reader on a historical, architectural and sociological tour of the magnificent spires and stained-glass windows that dot the landscape of Europe. It's an accessible, personable overview. (EUR190, $17.95)
Goya  •  Jose Gudiol ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 128 PAGES • COMING IN OCTOBER An overview of Goya's work in the excellent "Masters of Art" series. The book begins with an illustrated essay on Goya's art, and continues with reproductions of important works. Each painting is given a full page, with commentary on the facing page. (SPN79, $34.00)
Goya, Painter of Terrible Splendor  •  Jeanine Baticle ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 175 PAGES A pocket-size encyclopedia, this slim book is an illustrated overview of the life and times of Goya, his youth in Saragossa, days at the Royal court and, especially, his now-famous painterly response to the sacking of Madrid by the French. It's an illuminating portrait of 18th-century Madrid featuring reproductions of Goya's most famous paintings now on display at the Prado Museum. (SPN35, $12.95)
Gran Canaria Map  •  Reise & Verkehrsverlag MAP (ATL03, $11.95)
Guggenheim NY/Guggenheim Bilbao  •  Jeff Goldberg  •  Ezra Stoller ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES The Guggenheim New York and the Guggenheim Bilbao, two of the world's most stunning architectural achievements, are compared through beautiful duotone and full color photographs in this new book. The book is small enough to fit in your hand and it is cleverly devised -- when you flip it over you alternate between pictures of the two museums. (SPN115, $14.95)
Heart of Spain: Robert Capa  •  Robert Capa HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 228 PAGES This handsomely produced book presents 135 of Robert Capra's celebrated duotone images of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). With accompanying essays. (SPN99, $29.95)
Here Is Where We Meet  •  John Berger LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES This novel weaves a portrait of several European countries through encounters with the dead, from the narrator's mother, whom he discovers on a park bench in Lisbon, to a childhood friend wandering a market in Krakow. "The dead don't stay where they are buried," the protagonist's mother tells him, and this becomes the mantra for this most unusual journey through Europe's history and people. (EUR189, $14.00)
The High Renaissance and Mannerism  •  Linda Murray ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 287 PAGES Focusing on Italian art of the 16th century, this book in the outstanding "World of Art" series details the final glories of the Renaissance and the subsequent birth of the mannerist movement (led by the ageing Michelangelo). It includes chapters on Michelangelo, Florence, Parma, Rome, Venice and the Veneto. It closes with chapters on the same era in Spain and Northern Europe. With 300 illustrations, 37 in color. (ART33, $16.95)
A History of Medieval Spain  •  Joseph F. O'Callaghan HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 728 PAGES This massive, wide-ranging book spans the Visiogothic era, the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, the discovery of America, and the ascendancy of Islam. (SPN10, $29.95)
Homage to Catalonia  •  George Orwell BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1987 •  PAPER  • 234 PAGES • FAVORITE Orwell's portrait of the Barcelona uprising and the spirit of a city at war is a classic, an observant and heartfelt report from the streets. In part, this book is the simply told story of a wide-eyed soldier caught up in revolutionary fervor and the allure of Spain. (SPN03, $14.00)
Iberia, Spanish Travels & Reflections  •  James Michener TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 960 PAGES In this best-selling work, Michener departs from his usual fictional format and presents a compulsively readable, long and well-observed account of his affair with Spain and all things Spanish. It has achieved the status of a classic, rich in detail and insightful. (SPN16, $8.99)
Imperial Spain, 1469-1716  •  John H. Elliott HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 424 PAGES A leading scholar on Spanish history, John H. Elliott describes Spain's 250 years of imperial majesty, including the empire's sudden rise to power and fall from grace, in this authoritative history. (SPN138, $17.00)
Insight Compact Guide Gran Canaria  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 95 PAGES A slim guide to Gran Canaria featuring color photographs and excellent local maps. (CNY04, $8.95)
Insight Guide Barcelona  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES This handsome guide gives a profusely illustrated overview of Barcelona, featuring concise essays by well regarded authors on art, architecture, politics and culture. It includes hundreds of photos and maps and some limited practical information. You'll find yourself referring to the guide upon your return just to savor the fabulous photography. (SPN75, $19.95)
Insight Guide Portugal  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER An outstanding overview of the country, featuring hundreds of photographs and insightful essays on history, culture and art. It includes a substantial section on Lisbon. (PGL13, $21.95)
Insight Guide Spain  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 424 PAGES This handsome travel guide gives a profusely illustrated overview of the region, featuring concise essays by well regarded authors on natural history, politics and culture, hundreds of photos and maps and some limited practical information. (SPN123, $23.95)
Insight Pocket Guide Madrid  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  1998 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES This convenient, slim volume features color photographs, many maps (including a handy fold-out map of the city), good short descriptions of major points of interest, and other practical information. (SPN37, $12.95)
Interpreting Matisse Picasso  •  Elizabeth Cowling ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES A swift survey of the competition, friendship and mutual respect between Matisse and Picasso, as well as the art it inspired. With ample illustration. (ART19, $16.95)
The Jews of Spain  •  Jane S. Gerber HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 338 PAGES A straightforward, readable history of Jewish life in Spain. The book covers life in Spain up to the expulsion of the Jews in 1492, and continues with chapters on the Sephardic diaspora. (SPN72, $21.50)
Journey Through the Ice Age  •  Paul Bahn  •  Jean Vertut ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES • COMING IN Illustrated with extraordinary color photographs by Jean Vertut, this authoritative book is an excellent summary of Paleolithic art -- and particularly cave paintings -- throughout Europe. (EUR07, $27.50)
Journey to Portugal, In Pursuit of Portugal's History and Culture  •  Jose Saramago TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES Jose Saramago's richly detailed account of his journey across Portugal in 1979. Saramago's impressions of the Portuguese landscape and people are combined with a dose of history, fiction and meditations. With black-and-white photos and maps. (PGL23, $17.00)
Karen Brown's Spain, Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries  •  Lorena Aburto  •  Clare Brown  •  Cynthia Sauvage GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 300 PAGES A survey of inns, castles and other lodging of character, along with suggested itineraries and highlights of each region. (SPN149, $19.95)
The Land of My Fathers, A Son's Return to the Basque Country  •  Robert Laxalt  •  Joyce Laxalt CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 136 PAGES A portrait of the Basque culture and people, as seen through the eyes of Nevada writer Robert Laxalt, who traveled through the land of his ancestors in the 60s. This book, based on Laxalt's journals and complemented by his wife's photographs, captures the folkways of village life in mid-20th century French Pyrenees. (FRN162, $21.00)
Life and Food in the Basque Country  •  Maria Jose Sevilla FOOD •  1992 •  PAPER  • 170 PAGES A portrait of Basque life as seen through the people who practice its culinary traditions. Chapters profile the ways and history of Basque butchers, fishermen, housewives, kaiku-makers or society cooks, and others associated with food traditions. With a few recipes scattered throughout. (SPN125, $14.95)
The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself  •  J.M. Cohen BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1988 •  PAPER  • 316 PAGES Utterly transformed by her religious experiences, converted at age forty, Saint Teresa maintained an analytical and critical view of ecstasy and feared false mysticism. This book is widely read in Spain. (SPN18, $13.00)
Lisbon City Map  •  Turinta Maps MAP A detailed, color map of Lisbon. (PGL17, $12.95)
Lonely Planet Andalucia  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 472 PAGES A comprehensive guide to Cadiz, Granada, Seville and other popular destinations in Andalucia with good city maps, a few color photographs and excellent practical information on what to do and where to go. (SPN157, $19.99)
Lonely Planet Barcelona  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 298 PAGES A comprehensive city guide with good full-color maps, a few photographs and excellent information on what to do and where to go. (SPN158, $19.99)
Lonely Planet Canary Islands  •  Damien Simonis GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES In its hallmark style, this practical guide to the Canary Islands by Lonely Planet features maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and much nuts-and-bolts information on excursions, accommodations and sightseeing. With color photographs and excellent travel information. (CNY02, $16.99)
Lonely Planet Portugal  •  Julia Wilkinson GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 500 PAGES In its hallmark style, this practical guide to Portugal by Lonely Planet features maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and much nuts-and-bolts information on excursions, accommodations and sightseeing. Most of the book focuses on what to see, do, buy and eat in the city. With color photographs and excellent travel information. (PGL16, $21.99)
Lonely Planet Portuguese Phrasebook  •  Clara De MacEdo Vitorino LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2006 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES A handy pocket phrasebook for Portuguese basics, covering pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler. (PGL34, $8.99)
Lonely Planet Spain  •  Damien Simonis GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 924 PAGES At 800 pages, this practical travel guide to Spain is what the independent traveler needs. It features maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and much nuts-and-bolts information on excursions, accomodations and sightseeing. With color photographs and excellent travel information. (SPN153, $25.99)
Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook  •  Izaskun Arretxe LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2003 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A handy pocket Spanish phrasebook, with a 2,000-word two-way dictionary. (SPN182, $7.99)
Lonely Planet Walking in Spain  •  Miles Roddis  •  Nancy Louise Frey  •  Matt Fletcher GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A compact guide to exploring Spain on foot with recommended day excursions, walks and treks throughout the country. Each of the featured walks includes highlights, suggested accommodations, access information, and a small black-and-white map. (SPN190, $19.99)
Madrid For Pleasure  •  Michael Jacobs GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES A cultural guide to the city, strong on its heritage in art and literature. A revised edition in the Pallas for Pleasure series. (SPN94, $27.50)
Madrid Map  •  Borch Maps 2006 •  MAP A detailed map of Madrid at a scale of 1:10,000, laminated and folded for easy reference. (SPN106, $7.95)
Making of the Middle Ages  •  Richard W. Southern HISTORY •  1953 •  PAPER A classic history of 10th to 13th century Europe, covering culture, politics and major personalites. (EUR105, $19.00)
Mammals of Europe  •  Priscilla Barrett  •  David W. MacDonald FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES Published by Princeton, this is a field guide to land and marine mammals throughout Europe, both endemic and introduced. With more than 600 color illustrations of over 200 mammals, it's a comprehensive handbook, with detailed descriptions, range maps and commentary on behavior. (FG61, $34.95)
Manet/Velazquez, the French Taste for Spanish Painting  •  Gary Tinterow ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 600 PAGES The sumptuous oversize catalog for the 2003 exhibit on Manet and Velazquez, featuring 150 color reproductions of works by French and Spanish artists as well as examples of American artists influenced by the Golden Age in Spain. (ART28, $75.00)
Marks of Identity  •  Juan Goytisolo  •  Gregory Rabassa LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES This is the story of a Spanish exile's return from Paris to his native Barcelona. The novel's narrator, like Barcelona during the Franco years (and the author) is fractured, conflicted and (he feels) implicated in tragedy. It's the first part in a trilogy by Goytisolo, a Catalan who wrote complex, difficult novels of Spain on the periphery of the Western and Islamic worlds. Originally published in 1969. (SPN25, $15.00)
Matisse and Picasso  •  Yve-Alain Bois ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES Eminently readable and beautifully illustrated, this book charts the competitive relationship between Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso from 1906-1917. (ART17, $35.00)
Matisse and Picasso, The Story of their Rivalry and Friendship  •  Jack Flam ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES The latest book on the relationship between Matisse and Picasso. Art historian Jack Flam delves into the biographical details of their lives, their philosophical attitudes toward art and, of course, their work. (ART20, $17.95)
Matisse Picasso  •  Museum of Modern Art ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 368 PAGES Friends and competitors, Matisse and Picasso possessed a relationship that fueled great artistic innovation. This exhibition catalog juxtaposes the works of the two, highlighting the similarities and differences, while depicting the dialogue they shared through their art. (ART18, $60.00)
The Medieval Spains  •  Bernard F. Reilly HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 228 PAGES A short, scholarly history of Iberia from the late Roman period to the 15th century covering the politics, society and intellectual climate of Medieval Spain. With four maps and a helpful bibliography. (SPN98, $28.99)
Mediterranean Sea Cruises Map  •  Freytag & Berndt 2006 •  MAP A double-sided, full-color map of the Mediterranean, including the Iberian Peninsula and Black Sea, North Africa and the Levant, at a scale of 1:2,000,000. (MED36, $12.95)
Michelin Green Guide Portugal  •  Michelin Travel Publications GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 389 PAGES Michelin Green does Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, with the usual attention to cultural sites, and plenty of local maps. (PGL15, $21.95)
Michelin Green Guide Spain  •  Michelin Travel Publications GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 575 PAGES A survey of the cities, villages and sites of Spain in the classic A-to-Z Michelin style, featuring ratings, brief descriptions of all the major attractions, and with excellent full-color city maps. (SPN167, $21.95)
Modern Spain  •  Raymond Carr HISTORY •  1989 •  PAPER  • 201 PAGES A survey of Spanish history from 1875 to King Juan Carlos in 1980. With a focus on politics and economics. (SPN152, $24.95)
Moorish Spain  •  Richard Fletcher HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 189 PAGES Organized chronologically, this accessible survey of the history and culture of Islam in Spain opens with the Berber invasion on Spain in the 8th century and closes with the reign of Philip II in the early 17th. With maps and a section of black-and-white photographs. Fletcher covers not only empire and politics but also art, architecture and culture. (SPN110, $23.95)
National Geographic Traveler Spain  •  Fiona Dunlop GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A full-color guide to Spain in the series by National Geographic, featuring good photography, maps, visitor information, and an overview of history and culture. (SPN186, $27.95)
Northeast Spain Map  •  Kummerly & Frey Maps MAP • COMING IN A colorful shaded relief map showing all of northeast Spain from Madrid to Barcelona, and north to the Pyrenees. The scale is 1:500,000. (SPN65, $12.95)
Old Man Goya  •  Julia Blackburn BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2003 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Taking 1792--the year that Goya went deaf--as her starting point, Julia Blackburn chronicles the painter's fruitful last 35 years in captivating, imaginative detail. Her book is informed by her travels and research, her own family history and her keen intellect. Blackburn has explored similar topics, people and places in this same mesmerizing fashion in her previous books, most memorably in The Book of Color (Seychelles and the Indian Ocean), The Emperor's Last Island (St. Helena) and Daisy Bates in the Desert (Australian outback). (SPN171, $13.95)
The Ornament of the World, How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain  •  Maria Rosa Menocal  •  Harold Bloom RELIGION •  2003 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES In a series of historical vignettes highlighting the cultural achievements and religious tolerance of the Andalucian kingdom, Professor Menocal presents a portrait of a golden era in Spain during Europe's Dark Ages, from the eighth century until the repression of non-Christians in 1492. Menocal argues that because of this period of relative stability and peaceful coexistence between the three faiths, the arts and sciences flourished, prefiguring the Renaissance. (SPN185, $14.99)
Ottoman Empire and Islamic Tradition  •  Norman Itzkowitz HISTORY •  1972 •  PAPER  • 118 PAGES This classic history, by a professor of Turkish studies at Princeton, summarizes the major themes and issues surrounding the Ottoman period with clarity. (TKY81, $13.00)
Painting in Spain 1500-1700  •  Jonathan Brown ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 283 PAGES Velazquez and El Greco are but a few of the Spanish artists discussed in this in-depth study of the art produced during Spain's golden age. Art historian and professor Jonathan Brown provides a European context for the artistic activity occurring in Spain as well as examining how the Spanish artists of the era interpreted the religious and social issues of their times. (SPN183, $37.00)
Picasso  •  Patrick O'Brian ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 520 PAGES Here Patrick O'Brian, author of the popular historical novels about the 18th-century British Navy, covers the life and work of Picasso. O'Brian, who lived in Spain for many years, was an acquaintance of the great artist. (SPN86, $18.95)
Picasso  •  Hans L. Jaffe ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1983 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES An overview of Picasso's art in the excellent "Masters of Art" series. The book begins with an illustrated essay on the art of Picasso, and continues with reproductions of important works. Each is given a full page, with commentary on the facing page. (SPN85, $19.98)
Picasso  •  Jean-Louis Ferrier ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES This oversize paperback is a thoroughly illustrated study of Picasso's art over the decades. Chapters are organized chronologically by theme, and each essay features gorgeous color reproductions. (SPN84, $27.50)
Picasso  •  Timothy Hilton ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1987 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES An illustrated essay on Picasso's achievement and place in 20th-century art, organized by period. With 207 illustrations, 30 in color. Part of the World of Art series. (SPN82, $16.95)
Picasso  •  Christian-Peter Warncke ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES This beautifully illustrated color Tashen monograph features concise descriptions and interpretations of Picasso's important styles and developments. With 400 illustrations. (SPN90, $20.00)
Picasso, Master of the New Idea  •  Paule du Bouchet  •  Marie-Laure Bernadac ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 191 PAGES From his Spanish childhood to his glory days, this pocket-size book traces the development of Picasso and his art. This volume in the acclaimed "Discoveries" series includes hundreds of color and archival photographs, a useful chronology and long section of writing by and about Picasso. It's a marvel how they manage to put so much into this slim book. (SPN27, $12.95)
Pilgrim Stories, On and Off the Road to Santiago  •  Nancy Louise Frey TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 313 PAGES An anthropologist and writer living in Galicia, Nancy Frey reveals the meaning of modern journeys along the Way of St. James in this fascinating, scholarly book. It's a vivid account of the significance of the journey as told through interviews with modern participants. (SPN46, $22.95)
The Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago De Compostela  •  William Melczer GUIDEBOOK •  1993 •  PAPER  • 350 PAGES The original text itself fills only 48 pages, whereas Melczer's introduction fills 70; but together the two are an extremely informative (SPN42, $25.00)
The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago, The Complete Cultural Handbook  •  David Gitlitz  •  Linda Kay Davidson GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 440 PAGES A kilometer-by-kilometer guide to the way of St. James. Organized geographically, this comprehensive guide is a survey of the pilgrimage route across northern Spain. It covers the geography, attractions and history of the region in detail. (SPN137, $23.95)
The Pilgrimage, A Contemporary Quest for Ancient Wisdom  •  Paulo Coelho TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES An international bestseller by Portuguese writer Paulo Coelho, this book recounts the author's experiences along the historic Road to Santiago, much of it revolving around a sacred sword. It mixes travelogue, history and a modern quest for spirituality. Frankly, this book is a little weird -- but it's quite enjoyable. (SPN47, $13.95)
Pilgrimages, The Great Adventure of the Middle Ages  •  John Ure HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES (EUR202, $15.95)
The Plaza Mayor and the Shaping of Baroque Madrid  •  Jesús Escobar ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 376 PAGES An engaging, scholarly account of the physical transformation of early modern Madrid from market town to capital of the Spanish Habsburg empire. Escobar focuses on the architecture, planning and symbolism of Madrid's grand central square. With maps and illustrations. The plaza, as Escobar explains in wonderful detail, was the center of commerce and ceremony for 17th-century Madrid, showplace of the Habsburgs. Escobar is a professor of art history at Fairfield University. (SPN210, $106.00)
Portugal Map  •  Hildebrand 1998 •  MAP A detailed map of Portugal at a scale of 1:400,000 --perfect for the traveler. (PGL08, $11.95)
Portuguese, Start Speaking Today (Brazilian)  •  Language/30 LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  1998 •  CASETTE TAPE A 90-minute crash course in Portuguese as it is spoken in Brazil featured in two audio tapes and a phrasebook, all packaged in a vinyl sleeve. Geared for travelers, the course follows the foreign service method -- which focuses on learning dialogues and useful sentences instead of individual words. In each case, an English phrase is spoken once, and repeated twice in Portuguese. Topics include introductions, transportation, business and health. (BZL36, $21.95)
The Prado  •  Alfonso E. Perez Sanchez ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES The Prado Museum in Madrid features the art collected by the kings and queens of Spain over the centuries. With over 320 illustrations, this hefty book features the Prado's stunning collections of Velazquez, Goya, Rubens and El Greco. (SPN104, $35.00)
Prince Henry "the Navigator," A Life  •  Peter E. Russell BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2001 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES A complicated, rewarding portrait, and the first biography of the Portuguese prince in 100 years. In this revisionist history Russell depicts a Prince Henry who is not, as legend would have it, a visionary modernist, but rather a man of the Renaissance, as subject to prejudice, superstition and ego as any prince of his era. (PGL25, $21.00)
The Quest for El Cid  •  Richard Fletcher HISTORY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 217 PAGES A reevaluation of the legendary eleventh-century warrior Rodrigo Diaz, otherwise known as El Cid. Scholar Richard Fletcher delves deep into the life of this much-mythologized figure and extracts a new interpretation of his persona, explaining in the process how his legend evolved. (SPN141, $17.95)
Requiem: A Hallucination  •  Antonio Tabucchi  •  Margaret Jull Costa LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 110 PAGES Tabucchi's fever-dream tour of a vanishing Lisbon. The narrator, an "adopted Portuguese," returns after many years and visits cemeteries, brothels and gentlemen's clubs, in an ambiguous search for the ghosts of his past. (PGL09, $12.95)
Road of Stars to Santiago  •  Edward Stanton TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1994 •  HARD COVER  • 197 PAGES An account of the author's 500-mile journey across northern Spain on the medieval pilgrimage from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Campostela. Stanton, a professor of Spanish at the University of Kentucky, was in a time of personal crisis when he undertook the pilgrimage -- which he traversed wholly on foot, in company with other seekers. (SPN51, $30.00)
Road to Santiago  •  Michael Jacobs GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 210 PAGES A compact, illustrated guide to the Medieval pilgrimage route across the Pyrenees and Northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. Jacobs is a lively, literate guide to the culture, history, art and architecture encountered along the route. (SPN139, $27.50)
Rough Guide Portugal  •  Rough Guide GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 720 PAGES A comprehensive, frequently revised and personable guide to Portugal, its history, culture and attractions, in the series by the British publisher. The book deftly combines an overview of the country with practical travel information. (PGL31, $22.99)
Rough Guide Spain  •  Rough Guide GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 956 PAGES An opinionated comprehensive guide in the British series, deftly balancing an overview of the cultural and history of Spain with good practical information on sightseeing, food and accommodations. (SPN159, $24.99)
Rough Guide The Pyrenees  •  Rough Guide GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 664 PAGES A practical guide in the British series with good information on walking routes, excursions, accommodations and attractions on both sides of the border, including Catalonia, Basque Country and Andorra. (SPN146, $19.99)
Seabirds of the World, A Photographic Guide  •  Peter Harrison FIELD GUIDE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 317 PAGES • COMING IN A field edition of Harrison's definitive seabird identification guide, featuring 740 color photographs. It illustrates all the world's seabirds, many in a variety of plumages. The book also contains a convenient key to identifying the confusing albatrosses, petrels and other tubenoses, as well as range maps and information about habitats and distribution. This is the book that you'd carry on any sea voyage; our ten-year-old edition has been everywhere. (FG16, $29.95)
A Season in Granada, Uncollected Poems & Prose  •  Garcia Lorca  •  Christopher Maurer LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A selection of poems and prose in celebration of Granada, where Lorca was raised, studied and spent much of his short life. The selections of writing from Lorca, translated and edited by Christopher Mauler, mark the centenary of Lorca's birth. This handsomely produced slim book offers a fine sample of his work. (SPN117, $13.95)
Seraffyn's Mediterranean Adventure  •  Lin Pardey  •  Larry Pardey TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1991 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Three years in the life of a married couple cruising the Mediterranean from the Spanish coast to the Middle East, aboard a homebuilt boat. (MED63, $14.95)
A Small Death in Lisbon  •  Robert Wilson MYSTERY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 440 PAGES Set in Lisbon in 1941 and 1999, this award-winning mystery intertwines a present day murder mystery, some unsavory arms production, and smuggling in Nazi Germany. An engaging literary thriller covering much of the history of 20th-century Portugal. Be warned, there are some graphic passages dealing with the horrors of war and concentration camps. (PGL22, $7.99)
South Wind Through the Kitchen, The Best of Elizabeth David  •  Elizabeth David FOOD •  2006 •  PAPER  • 383 PAGES A selection of recipes and essays, chosen judiciously by Jill Norman, from David's nine influential books, including Book of Mediterranean Food and French Country Cooking. With 200 recipes. David writes equally as well and insightfully about culture and society as about the food itself. Julian Barnes provides the introduction to this edition. First published in the 1950s. (MED30, $18.95)
Spain & Portugal Map  •  Freytag & Berndt 2006 •  MAP A colorful, shaded relief map of the entire Iberian Peninsula at a scale of 1:700,000. (SPN22, $12.95)
Spain 1469-1714, A Society of Conflict  •  Henry Kamen HISTORY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES A comprehensive survey of the Golden Age of imperial Spain, geared for students. This vivid history shows how Spain debated the unification of the country, the conquest of America, the wars in the Netherlands, the role of the Inquisition, the expulsion of the Moors, and the last days of the Habsburg regime. With the usual scholarly paraphernalia, a few maps and no illustrations. (SPN69, $68.40)
Spain and Its World, 1500-1700  •  John H. Elliott HISTORY •  1990 •  PAPER  • 316 PAGES A wide-ranging overview of Spain by the pre-eminent historian of the Imperial Age of Spain. The 12 scholarly essays in this collection are arranged thematically. They're beautifully written. (SPN48, $24.00)
Spain's Men of the Sea: Daily Life on the Indies Fleets in the Sixteenth Century  •  Pablo E. Perez-Mallaina HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES The ships and men of Spain's Atlantic fleets, crucial to the country's empire in the New World during the 16th century, are discussed in lively detail in this prodigiously researched book. The author brings this unique nautical society to life with humor and drama. (SPN93, $40.00)
Spain: Interiors, Gardens, Architecture, Landscape  •  Angus Mitchell  •  Amparo Garrido HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 252 PAGES A handsomely illustrated survey of Spanish style. (SPN145, $24.95)
The Spanish Civil War  •  Hugh Thomas HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 1136 PAGES Called the best general history of the dramatic chain of events that tore apart a nation, led to the tragedy of a civil war, and captured the emotions of an entire world. This great subject receives serious treatment with rich detail and insight. With 35 maps. (SPN26, $24.95)
The Spanish Inquisition  •  Cecil Roth HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 369 PAGES The Inquisition -- introduced in Spain during the Middle Ages, ended only in the 18th century. Empowered by the Roman Catholic church, the Spanish sovereigns moved first against Jews, then Protestants, mystics, and various nonconformists. This documents the events leading up to the Inquisition and the torment that spread from Spain to Portugal and the New World -- a fascinating exploration of the roots of the Inquisition and its effects on the country. (SPN91, $15.95)
The Spanish Inquisition, A Historical Revision  •  Henry Kamen HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 369 PAGES An absorbing account of the Spanish Inquisition for the general reader, a bestseller when it was first published in the 1960s, now updated by the author. Kamen argues that the Inquisition was not as ruthless or as accepted in its time as was previously thought. It is a well researched and thought-provoking rethinking of a much-discussed period in Spanish history. (SPN144, $23.00)
The Spanish Labyrinth, An Account of the Social and Political Background of the Spanish Civil War  •  Gerald Brenan HISTORY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES Originally published in 1943, Brenan's comprehensive account of the Spanish Civil war catapulted him to the status of cultural icon. A witness to the war with clear sympathies for the Spanish Left, Brenan's passion for his adopted country colors his analysis of the war. It's still a tremendously good book, vivid in its details of the war and the heartbreak it visited on the Spanish Republic. (SPN74, $22.99)