The Story of Spain [Paperback]

Mark Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2000

Mark Williams has drawn on years of rigorous research to re-create the drama, excitement and pathos of the crucial events in the history of the western world. 'The Story of Spain' brings together the myriad fragments of Spanish history into a clear and enlightening mosaic of the past.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . the dramatic historical pageant of Spain . . . engages the reader from first page to last." -- Midwest Book Review, January 2000

". . . written in a style that clearly allows the reader to grasp the intricacies of Spain’s historical elements." -- Spain 21 Magazine, Spring 2001

"A vivid account of the country's origins and development as a nation..." -- David Baird, Lookout Magazine

"By far the best introduction for students in English to Spain's history and culture..." -- Paul Smith, Professor Emeritus, Department of Spanish, U.C.L.A.

"For a readable and thorough but not over-long account of Spanish history, The Story of Spain is hard to beat." -- Lonely Planet guide to Spain, 2002 edition

"The title of this work prepares us for what it is: a history of Spain..." -- Ruth Bennett, CUNY, Hispania Magazine

From the Author

"I first went to Spain as a graduate student and could not find a decent one-volume history of the country. So I decided to write it and eventually did so after many years of study. I think my book covers all the main events and themes in a readable fashion for anyone interested in the subject. Later, they can explore their favorite people and places through other books on specific subjects. I also think the listings of historic places to visit are very useful for certain travelers who really like to know a country well."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Aldington Books Ltd; 4th edition (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8489954135
• ISBN-13: 978-8489954137
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,165,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and superior survey History of Spain, September 29, 2002

By 

"cloudia" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story of Spain (Paperback)

This engagingly written survey History of Spain hits the spot. Williams has a lot of material and a heck of a lot of conflict to cover, and he does it well. He starts in pre-history and is about as detailed as you can get for a survey. I had never heard of the Tartessos (the earliest Iberians) and the Guanches (a tribe that dominated the Balearic Islands in ancient times) before. Williams covers the Roman empire and the influence of the Punic Wars. Barcelona was named after the royal family that included Hannibal, for example. He also explains the birth of Christianity, adding that Pontius Pilate was born in what is now Tarragona, and moves on to the fall of the Western Empire, the triumph of the Visigoths, complete with gorey detail and the arrival of the Moors.

At first the History of Spain is the tale in great part of the Iberian peninsula. Before the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella, the central kingdom of Castille might have united with Portugal rather than Aragon. The chapter on the Renaissance is probably the best written, illustrating vividly how Spain brought together such diverse characters as Martin Luther, Suleiman the Magnificent, the Tudors of England and Montezuma of Mexico in one Century. Williams also discusses the evolution of Art and Literature throughout the book, never omitting to show that Titian, El Greco, Cervantes, Velasquez, Goya, Dali, Picasso, Miro, Machado and the like are responsible for diffusing and creating the glory that is Spanish culture, and sometimes too that which is not so Glorious. Williams doesn't neglect the Inquisition, but explains its birth, transmutations and really odd dying out. He also does well in explaining the lackluster years of the 19th century, the birth of modern Spain, with revolutions, 'pronunciamentos' and finally civil war, and the emergence of Franco. He explains regional unrest and is particularly good at showing how Catalonia and the Basque regions developed differently than other regions. He keeps the personality of monarchs and political leaders in sight, so much so, that if I were a Bourbon I might be insulted.

In fact, this well-written and informative survey really only has one flaw, that is, more or less understandable given the subject. It seems slightly biased, a little too pro-Spanish. Although Williams doesn't shrink from showing the flaws of leaders, he does however spend a great deal on what is called apparently "The Black Legend," the literary view of Spaniards as villains. While this is certainly desirable, it seems perhaps he goes too far. He says the legend began with a hyperbolic monk in the Americas who exaggerated the abuse and murder of Native Americans by the conquistadors. While he handily refutes the claims of this one man, there are still some things which seem questionable. As early in the chapters on the Moors for example, one wonders if the cruelty and debauchery he attributes to their most perverse monarchs doesn't find similar outlets in the worst of the Christian monarchs. He flatly states that many of the agricultural innovations of the Moors were really Roman innovations carried over by them. He rather underplays the cruelty of the Inquisition by saying it wasn't particularly bad or 'unjust' for the time, and that there were more Religious murders in England than during the Inquisition. This seems at least very arguable. He calls Phillip II's enemy, the Dutch leader, William of Orange, 'an essentially corrupt figure,' but doesn't mention how so or if there would be those who disagree with this assessment. In one refutation of 'the Black Legend' he gives the intermarriage between Spanish and native peoples in the New World as proof that the view is unjust. Obviously a smear is going to be unjust, but simply allowing intermarriage between colonizing and colonized doesn't prove that there are no abuses going on. It is not that he doesn't have a point (one he's not alone in making) but it's an oversimplified one. He doesn't mention incredible caste systems that exist in Latin America, or that the 'Indian Leaders' of those countries could only come to power after great civil unrest and oppositions by the 'Spaniards.' And he has one really shocking line about Native Americans in Northern countries eking out their pathetic existence on reservations. While the reader will see his point, the very phraseology seems disrespectful of the Native Americans. But that of course is not really a judgement about Spain itself.

So, in spite of the fact that you may want to take some of Williams assessments or even his adoration of Spain with a grain of salt, this is still an excellent survey. There is much to learn and be introduced to, and Williams tackles the job with gusto. Each chapter ends with a list of sites germaine to the period, and the maps, of the Iberian portion of Spain only, are quite explanatory. This book is a singularly satisfying reading experience that gives a first grade impression of a powerful culture. This would make an excellent companion to The Lonely Planet Spain which is a great guidebook.

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A History-Reader Must, December 27, 2000

By 

Vicente H. Climent (Fremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story of Spain (Paperback)

Being an avid student of history, I found the book "The Story of Spain" by Mark Williams a magnificently well written, factual, unbiased, and complete synthesis of Spain's complex history compiled in less than a 300-page volume. Yet, it covers with amazing detail from pre-historical times to our very present.

Many are the merits of this outstanding book. For one, instead of presenting a succession of dry historical facts as is often the case, this book is written in such a fluid and exciting manner that the reader gets passionately involved in its lecture as if going through the most intriguing fiction drama hard to set aside. Further, internal events and external influences are precisely narrated to convey their progressive impact in forging the unique, often tragicomic, always dramatic Spanish personalities - the reader clearly understands each new development as a natural result of a prior build up. Furthermore, from beginning to end, all its historical and cultural protagonists are vividly presented as true human beings, with their predominant characteristics but also with their strengths and weaknesses skillfully outlined by well-selected phrases, back-and-forth comparisons, and anecdotes.

But its principal merit in my opinion is the extraordinary ability of this author in grabbing the undivided attention of the reader, walking effortlessly through some 15,000 years while impressing a remarkable sense of perspective that other authors require volumes to convey.

Humbly conceived by its author for the educational enjoyment of English-speaking tourists, it is pitiful that such a jewel has not been translated into the Spanish language as serious history students in Spain and Latin American could gain much insightful knowledge. Having read lots of books on this topic (Madariaga, Menendez-Pidal, Castro, S. Albornoz... as well as Livermoor, Carr, Bertrand...), I emphatically recommend this brief "story" as superbly narrated, highly perceptive, and very comprehensive.

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good overview, May 12, 2003

By 

Steve (United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Story of Spain (Paperback)

I got this book to prepare for a tourist trip to Spain. It gives a very good overview of the history of Spain starting from prehistoric times up to about the mid-1990's. The more modern history is understandably rather cursory. The Spanish Civil War was a bit confusing with the multiple political parties and really requires it's own book to understand. The author gives a small biography on each time period for futher reading. The best feature of this book is that after each chapter the author gives tourist sites related to each historic period. For example after the Roman history chapter, he lists sites with Roman ruins and how it relates to what you just read. This makes the book a good reference to bring along on the trip. It you plan a tourist trip to Spain and only have time for one book, this would be the one to pick up.