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)
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)
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  •  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 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)
Basque Country, Navarra and La Rioja  •  Michelin Travel Publications 2003 •  MAP A regional map of Spain covering the Basque Country, Navarra and La Rioja at a scale of 1:250,000. With an index, good topographic detail, roads, attractions and natural features. It includes plans of San Sebastian, Pamplona, and Bilbao. (SPN204, $8.95)
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)
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 Bilbao & the Basque Lands  •  Michael Pauls GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 312 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 the Basque country of northern Spain. Second edition. (SPN207, $18.95)
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)
Cathedrals and Castles, Building in the Middle Ages  •  Alain Erlande-Brandenburg ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 175 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A slim encyclopedia of the art, architecture and culture of the Middle Ages. This volume in the acclaimed "Discoveries" series features hundreds of drawings and color illustrations, a brief chronology and more information than you would imagine between its slim covers. Take it along to gain a better appreciation of the Middle Ages and its legacy in Europe. (MED07, $12.95)
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)
Cultural Atlas of Spain and Portugal  •  Mary Vincent CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1995 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES With its 40 maps, 240 photographs and insightful essays on all aspects of Iberian geography and culture, this handsome book is an excellent introduction to the region. It's a balanced, beautifully presented overview that we couldn't recommend more highly. (SPN34, $45.00)
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)
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)
Discovering Spain, An Uncommon Guide  •  Penelope Casas GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 591 PAGES A wonderful, personable guide to Spain filled with history and culture and infused with the author's wit and love for her country. Each of 12 parts of the country receives its own chapter, with ample descriptions of major attractions and history, plus plenty of advice on the joys of traveling to Spain. Highly recommended. (SPN31, $25.00)
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)
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 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 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)
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)
Food and Wines of Spain  •  Penelope Casas FOOD •  1982 •  HARD COVER  • 457 PAGES Already in its 11th edition, this is a classic on both Spain and its food. The meat of the book is over 400 typical Spanish recipes, but much of the joy is in the weaving of Spanish culture and culinary history, not to mention personal experience, into the presentation of the food. A pleasure to read (although hunger-inducing), this book also includes a survey of Spanish wines. (SPN100, $30.00)
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)
The French  •  Theodore Zeldin CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 592 PAGES • COMING IN This book, by a warm-hearted Brit, takes the reader straight to the heart of the French character, answering such perplexing questions as when to laugh at jokes and how to eat properly. Combining interviews, news reports and astute analysis, this is a stimulating social history in the guise of a "how-to" book. (FRN31, $17.00)
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)
Galicia Map 571  •  Michelin Travel Publications MAP A nicely detailed regional map of Galicia (1,400,000), including northern Portugal and adjoining provinces east to Oviedo and south to Salamanca. (SPN53, $8.95)
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Michelin Green Guide Atlantic Coast: Poitou, Aquitaine, the Basque Country  •  Michelin Travel Publications GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 474 PAGES A practical guide to France's west coast from Nantes and La Rochelle south to Biarritz. With a good fold-out map. Among the region's many attractions are the wines of Bordeaux, sites associated with Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the abundant Romanesque and Medieval architecture. The pilgrims' route to Santiago de Campostela also passes through the region. With a 60-page general overview, brief section of practical travel information and major sites, arranged alphabetically from Agen to Vouvant. The 50 detailed city and local maps are especially helpful. (FRN207, $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)
The New Spaniards  •  John Hooper CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2007 •  PAPER  • 458 PAGES Hooper, writing with the immediacy of a news bulletin, surveys the enormous cultural, political and economic changes in Spain since the death of Franco. Authoritative and compelling, the book focuses on the daily life of the average Spaniard. Revised edition. (SPN08, $16.00)
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)
Oxford Illustrated History of Prehistoric Europe  •  Barry W Cunliffe HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 532 PAGES Dozens of experts contributed essays to this illustrated account of the sweep of early human history in Europe from the Paleolithic to the fall of the Roman Empire, featuring 300 well-integrated maps, photographs and site plans. (EUR32, $31.95)
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, 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)
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)
Prehistoric Art in Europe  •  N.K. Sanders ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 508 PAGES An overview of European prehistoric art, well illustrated with black-and-white photos, line drawings and maps. This book places the cave art in southwestern France within the larger context of prehistoric art. (EUR02, $37.00)
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)
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)
Roads to Santiago, A Modern-Day Pilgrimage Through Spain  •  Cees Nooteboom TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES An exhilarating but erudite portrait of modern and historic Spain by a renowned Dutch author. Nooteboom writes quite brilliantly of Spanish art, philosophy, history, architecture and culture, as well as of the people he encountered during his Iberian peregrinations . (SPN50, $16.00)
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)
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)
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)
The Spanish Seaborne Empire  •  J.H. Parry HISTORY •  1990 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES The first of the great seaborne empires of Western Europe, Spain was the richest and most formidable European power from 1492 until the break-up of its empire 300 years later during the struggles between rival generals and the "liberators" of the 19th century. This classic study of Spain's impact on the Americas traces the conquests of Cortes and Pizarro, the economic and social consequences in Spain of trying to control an empire, its administration, the social structure, the Church, and the destruction of Indian cultures and their transformation to colonial states. (SPN70, $26.95)
Spanish, Start Speaking Today! (Cassette Tapes)  •  Educational Services Corporation LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  CASETTE TAPE A 90-minute crash course in Spanish featured in two audio tapes and a phrasebook packaged in a vinyl sleeve. Geared for travelers, the course follows the foreign service method -- which focuses on dialogues and useful sentences instead of individual words. In each case, an English phrase is spoken once, and repeated in Spanish twice. Topics include introductions, transportation, business and health. A version with compact discs is also available (SPN219). (SPN140, $21.95)
The Story of the Moors in Spain  •  Stanley Lane-Poole HISTORY •  1990 •  PAPER  • 285 PAGES First published in 1886, this book has held its place as the classic work on the Moors in Spain: a scholarly, wonderfully readable and sweeping tale of splendor and tragedy. (SPN12, $18.95)
Surrealism  •  Fiona Bradley ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES A volume in the excellent Movements in Modern Art series. Bradley, based at the Tate Gallery in London, describes -- in easily accessible prose -- the history and thrust of the Surrealist movement, covering Magritte, Ernst, Dali, and others. Many color illustrations. (SPN83, $19.99)
Time Out Barcelona  •  Time Out GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A practical travel guide by the hipsters at Time Out, with an overview of the city -- and excellent recommendations on where to eat, shop and loiter. (SPN92, $19.95)
To the Heart of Spain: Food and Wine Adventures beyond the Pyrenees  •  Ann Walker  •  Larry Walker FOOD •  1997 •  PAPER  • 319 PAGES This travel guide and cookbook recounts adventures -- culinary and otherwise -- throughout Spain. With 100 recipes and a section on wines. (SPN95, $14.95)
The Trap  •  Ana Maria Matute LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 220 PAGES This finely honed novel set in the time of the Spanish Civil War provides a feminist perspective on those tumultuous events. Translated from the original Spanish. (SPN60, $15.95)
Travelers' Tales Spain  •  Lucy McCauly ANTHOLOGY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 504 PAGES A collection of mostly contemporary writing on Spain by such diverse luminaries as Calvin Trillin, Robert Hughes, Jan Morris and Garcia Lorca. It's a delightful portrait of the country. (SPN09, $19.95)
Trekking & Climbing in Northern Spain  •  Jim Thompson  •  Ilja Schroeder GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES A detailed, compact guide to 16 treks and 10 climbs in the Pyrenees, Picos de Europa and Cantabrica. With 120 photographs and 40 maps, all in color. (SPN196, $19.95)
Trekking in the Pyrenees: France & Spain  •  Douglas Streatfield-James GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A guide to 80 day hikes, climbs and treks throughout the Pyrennes, focusing on route descriptions, maps and detailed travel information. With introductory chapters on the history and nature of the region, and four-page color section on flora. (SPN126, $19.95)
Two Spanish Picaresque Novels: Lazarillo de Tormes, The Swindler  •  Francisco de Quevedo  •  Michael Alpert LITERATURE •  1969 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A pair of tales that helped lay the foundation for the Spanish novel. The first, "Lazarillo de Tormes," was written in 1554 by an anonymous author and tells of a rambunctious young man from Salamanca who schemes against his various masters. Cervantes was a big admirer. The second, "The Swindler," was written in 1626 by Francisco de Quevedo, and paints a darkly comic picture of the criminal underworld and a servant who tries in vain to achieve the status of gentleman. (SPN108, $14.00)
The Walker's Literary Companion  •  Robert Gilbert  •  Anne Wallace  •  Jeffrey Robinson ANTHOLOGY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 352 PAGES A diverse sampling of literature on the pleasures of walking, representing philosophers, naturalists, outcasts, athletes and intellectuals from Plato to Frank O'Hara. (WLK08, $24.00)
Walking  •  Henry David Thoreau REFERENCE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 92 PAGES You may want to carry this small volume in your daypack for inspiration. In it, Thoreau offers his meditations on the spiritual benefits of this most civilized form of travel. (WLK04, $9.95)
Walking in the Cordillera Cantabrica  •  Robin Walker GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A detailed, practical guide to mountaineering and trekking, covering 60 routes in the Cantabrica range. (SPN194, $24.95)
Way of St James: Pyrenees, Santiago, Finisterre  •  Alison Raju GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A revised, expanded guide to the Pilgrim's Road. This volume covers in detail the Spanish half of the route, from the Pyrennes to Finisterre on the Galician coast. (SPN202, $19.95)
Western Picos de Europa Map  •  Adrados Ediciones MAP A folded topographic map of Picos de Europa at a scale of 1:25,000. We also carry the Central and Eastern Picos de Europa map (SPN197). (SPN198, $11.95)
Wild Spain, A Traveller's Guide  •  Frederic Grunfeld GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A brief, illustrated survey of the national parks and wilderness areas of Spain, organized geographically. With a map, description and photographs covering 50 wilderness areas from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean coast, Andalucia and the canary Islands. (SPN96, $19.95)