The Struggle for Catalonia: Rebel Politics in Spain
by Raphael Minder
Minder, a journalist for The New York Times, provides a nuanced view of the independence movement. He explores both Catalonia's aspirations and the challenges of achieving independence, while also considering Madrid's perspective. An excellent resource for understanding the movement without partisan bias.
Eyewitness Guide Barcelona & Catalonia
by DK
Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this superbly illustrated guide features color photography, dozens of local maps and detailed information on the region's attractions
Catalan Cuisine: Europe's Last Great Culinary Secret
by Colman Andrews
An introduction and a guide to the food, wine, and customs of Catalonia featuring recipes and cooking techniques
Transatlantic
by Netflix Series
Transatlantic is a historical drama miniseries, based on the 2019 novel The Flight Portfolio by Julie Orringer. The Netflix series covers the historic Emergency Rescue Committee that operated in France, Spain, and Portugal in 1940, after the fall of France to the Nazis.
Men in Battle
by Alvah Bessie
Alvah Bessie, a Hollywood screenwriter who became a commander in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, tells the story of the battle to rid Spain of General Franco and the fascists. It's a must read for anyone studying this period of important political history.
España - A Brief History of Spain
by Giles Tremlett
Bestselling author and journalist, Giles Tremlett delves into the rich and varied history of Spain, from prehistoric times to today, in a brief, accessible and enjoyable account.
The New Spaniards
by John Hooper
John Hooper's fascinating study brings to life the new Spain of the 21st century
Two Catalonias
by (Documentary)
A must see documentary on the divisions in Catalan Politics and the independence movement
Two Wheels over Catalonia, cycling the back roads of North-Eastern Spain
by Richard Guise
Offering humorous and historical anecdotes along the way, Guise's journey offers readers an informative and light hearted read as he navigates his way through Catalonia
The Shadow of the Wind
by By Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals from its war wounds, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer's son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julian Carax. But when he sets out to find the author's other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. ...
The Jews of Spain: A History of the Sephardic Experience
by Jane S. Gerber
For more than a thousand years, Sepharad (the Hebrew word for Spain) was home to a large Jewish community noted for its richness and virtuosity. Summarily expelled in 1492 and forced into exile, their tragedy of expulsion marked the end of one critical phase of their history and the beginning of another.
Catalonia: A Cultural History
by Michael Eaude
Michael Eaude traces the checkered history and unique monuments of Catalonia through the ages
Dali: Wines of Gala
by by Salvador Dalí et al
No vin ordinaire, this book combines the great Salvador and the world’s greatest wines to produce a refreshing blend of art, fun, and information.
Cruel Crossing: Escaping Hitler Across the Pyrenees
by Edward Stourton
Journalist and political commentator, Stourton, brings to life the secret history of the WW2 escape route through the Pyrenees from France to Spain, with personal stories of endurance, betrayal and remarkable bravery.
The History of Spain - Land on a Crossroad
by Great Courses Documentary series
Professor Emerita Joyce E. Salisbury of the University of Wisconsin unfurls a broad and fascinating panorama of Spanish history, spanning the centuries from the first Neolithic settlement of the peninsula to Spain’s 20th century Civil War in this documentary series.
Cathedral of the Sea
by Ildefonso Falcones
Set in fourteenth-century Barcelona, Cathedral of the Sea is a thrilling historical novel of friendship and revenge, plague and hope, love and war.
Soldiers of Salamis
by Javier Cercas
Cerca's novel follows a gripping investigation into a historical mystery rooted in Spain's tumultuous past. The story revolves around Rafael Sánchez Mazas, a key founder of the Spanish Falange and a minister in Franco's regime after the Spanish Civil War. Before his rise to prominence, Sánchez Mazas narrowly escaped execution by Republican forces, fleeing into the woods. Despite being spotted by a Republican soldier, he was spared—a moment that became a focal point of myth and storytelling, much of it propagated by Sánchez Mazas himself.
Decades later, author Javier Cercas delves into this account, uncovering deeper, often unsettling truths beneath the legend. His exploration is less about glorifying the miraculous escape and more about examining its human and moral complexities. While the narrative is reflective and occasionally speculative, it offers thought-provoking insights into historical memory and its modern implications. Despite sparse dialogue and a slower pace, the novel's powerful themes and emotional depth make it a compelling read for those interested in Spain's history and the legacy of its civil conflict.
The novel was also made into a film "Soldiers of Salamina", released in 2003
Remedy for Treason
by Caroline Roe
Girona, Spain. 1353. Struggling to save his patients from the plague, and avoiding the even greater danger of his wife's temper, Isaac discovers that pestilence isn't the city's only killer. Soon Isaac finds himself and his family caught in a tightening web of royal intrigue designed to destroy the Spanish monarchy--and whoever else gets in the way..
Using her PhD in Medieval History, US writer, Roe has created a series of 8 novels set in Girona; "The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona".
Other novels include "A Cure for a Charlatan" & "An Antidote for Avarice"
In the Shadow of the Pyrenees: The Freedom Trail to Spain
by Kathryn Gauci
A thrilling and emotional novel about bravery and self-sacrifice, heartbreak, and revenge, set in one of the most dangerous and difficult of WWII escape routes.
Catalan Food: Culture and Flavors from the Mediterranean
by Daniel Olivella
Olivella masterfully combines typical recipes with historical narratives about Catalonia’s culinary traditions.
Victus: The Fall of Barcelona
by Albert Sanchez Pinol
A sweeping historical novel set in the early 1700s in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain. Pinol's main character is Marti Zuviria, a treacherous, young military engineer who holds the fate of the War of Spanish Succession in his hands. Dark, witty and profound, the novel culminates in a great betrayal and the fall of Barcelona and Catalonia.
Dali
by Robert Radford
A nice overview of Dali's life and important works, this Phaidon art book explains how Dali infused his work with the surreal. Includes plenty of color photographs.
Homage to Catalonia
by George Orwell
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
Ghosts of Spain
by Giles Tremlett
Tremlett, Madrid correspondant for The Guardian newspaper, takes us on a fascinating journey around Spain and through Spanish history.
The Time of the Doves
by Mercè Rodoreda
Powerfully written novel set during the Spanish Civil War and beyond.
This is a rare and moving portrait of a woman confronting and surviving a convulsive period in Spanish history
