Spain is overwhelmingly rich in history, art, and culture. For information on Spain past and present, consider reading some of these books or seeing these films:

Non-Fiction

Spain has undergone incredible changes since the death of Franco in 1975. The New Spaniards (Hooper) is a survey of all aspects of modern Spain, including its politics, economy, demographics, education, religion, and popular culture.

For a sympathetic cultural history of the Basque people, their language, and contributions from Roman times to the present, read The Basque History of the World (Kurlansky).

George Orwell traded his press pass for a uniform, fought against Franco’s Fascists in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–39, and then wrote an account of his experiences in his gripping Homage to Catalonia. The Battle for Spain (Beevor) re-creates the political climate during the Civil War.

James Michener traveled to Spain for several decades, and his tribute, Iberia, describes how Spain’s dark history created a contradictory and passionately beautiful land.

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