Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on
bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning
by Laurie Lee
Laurie Lee captures the atmosphere of a beautiful but violent Spain during the Spanish Civil War.
A Vision of Battlements
by Anthony Burgess
1965 novel by Anthony Burgess based on his experiences during World War II in Gibraltar, where he was serving with the British army.
Death in the Afternoon
by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway's classic exploration of the history and pageantry of bullfighting, and the deeper themes of cowardice, bravery, sport and tragedy that it inspires.
Gibraltar: The Greatest Siege in British History
by Lesley Adkins
A page-turning account of the dramatic four-year siege of Britain’s Mediterranean garrison by Spain and France—and an often overlooked key to the British defeat in the American Revolution.
The Arts in Spain: From Prehistory to Postmodernism
by John F. Moffit
A representative anthology of examples of painting, architecture and sculpture providing a critical overview of Spain. From Iberian and Roman beginnings, the book traces the development of the arts in Spain, examining the magnificent Islamic and Christian foundations at Cordoba and the Escorial, the idiosyncratic masterworks of El Greco, the Golden Age of Zurbaran and Velazquez, the art of Goya, and the innovative works of Picasso, Dali and Miro, and revealing that many of the most characteristic Spanish artistic currents had their origins at the dawn of history.
South from Granada; a Sojourn in Southern Spain
by Gerald Brenan
An amusing and insightful account of Spanish village life in the early 20th century from a brilliant interpreter of Spain and Spanish culture.
Ghosts of Spain
by Giles Tremlett
Tremlett captures the Spanish character, history and modern politics in this masterful portrait, interweaving the story of his love for the country (where he has lived for 20 years) with interviews, anecdotes and observation.
Spain Revealed: Cordoba's Mezquita
by Raezer & Raezer
The definitive guide to the Great Mosque of Cordoba .
Spain: The Root and the Flower
by John A. Crow
Take this book with you to Spain; it's an absorbing, well-written account of Spanish cultural history from prehistory to the Romans, Jews, Moors, Golden Age, and on to Franco and his legacy in modern Spain.
Moorish Spain
by Richard Fletcher
An entertaining and enlightening account of a vital period in Spanish history which transformed the culture and society, not only of Spain, but of the rest of Europe
The New Spaniards
by John Hooper
John Hooper's fascinating study brings to life the new Spain of the 21st century
Driving over Lemons, An Optimist in Andalucia
by Chris Stewart
Stewart's memoir about moving with his wife to a 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.