Errant in Iberia [Paperback]

Ben Curtis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2006

I did nothing but dream about moving to Spain until another minute in London threatened to push me over the edge! Turning up in Madrid without a word of Spanish, I soon found a job, alluring intercambios, amazing journeys and wild fiestas. Then I met Marina, bought a scarily run-down flat in Lavapies, and got in with the in-laws! If I can do it, couldn't you?

Product Details

• Paperback: 145 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (April 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411652592
• ISBN-13: 978-1411652590
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been living and working in Madrid since 1998 (after initially only planning on staying in the city for a month).

After starting a blog and podcast about Spain for fun in 2005, I stopped English teaching and life got much more interesting.

Somehow it got me on the radio, into the newspapers, and a much better job - nowadays my wife Marina and I mostly help an awful lot of people learn Spanish via our Notes in Spanish podcasts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read, March 17, 2006

By 

Mr. Stuart Starrs "Deecree" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Errant in Iberia (Paperback)

Errant in Iberia vividly describes the settings the author finds himself in when first exploring Spain, the capital city in particular, after deciding to make a life for himself there.

As if this travel-writing was not enough, Ben explains his adapting to the culture in which he has immersed himself and how this immersion led to his current circumstances and marriage to his Spanish wife.

I am quite sure this would appeal to a wide range of people, from those who often read travel books, to those who have an interest in Spain, and those who dream and taking the drastic step of moving to a foreign country to change the direction of their lives.

I enjoyed it immensely.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Travel Memoir, March 17, 2006

By 

Cascade A. Dusel "Cascade DuSel" (Wesley Chapel, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Errant in Iberia (Paperback)

I loved this book - I think the author did a great job describing the issues expats deal with and how wonderful life in Spain really is - I downloaded his podcasts on itunes as well and they are really cool. Great book - I highly recommend

5.0 out of 5 stars A treat, February 22, 2012

By 

icantsendhare - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Errant in Iberia (Paperback)

I'm a big fan of Ben and Marina's "Notes in Spanish" podcasts, which makes me anything but an impartial reviewer. But I don't think you'd need to be interested in Spanish, or perhaps even in Spain, to enjoy this book. Ben has a real gift for anecdote (reminiscent of Bill Bryson) and also for evocative description, and if you read the first few pages I predict you'll stay with it to the end. The narrative does seem to come to a rather abrupt close, but I don't think we can blame the guy for drawing a bit of a curtain over his courtship and marriage. (I do blame him for some spelling errors: "medieval surfs"? This is what comes of knowing too many languages.)