España A brief history of Spain

Historian Tremlett (Ghosts of Spain) surveys Spain from ancient times to the Covid-19 pandemic in this brisk and informative account. Contending that Spain "has struggled constantly to fuse together a fractured soul," Tremlett documents the region's early history as a nexus where Christianity, Islam, and Judaism coexisted but contends that religious tolerance "was never as consistent or harmonious as it is frequently depicted." The marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragón in 1469 brought their separate kingdoms into "something that, at least geographically, looks much like modern Spain," but their rule also gave rise to the Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of Jews and Muslims. Documenting the sweep of Spanish conquistadors through North and South America in the 16th century, Tremlett contends that "Empire... helped unite Spain, not least because so many Spaniards could share in the project of despoiling it." Tensions caused by Spain's multiple national identities continued to provoke conflicts, however, including the three Carlist wars in the 19th century and Gen. Francisco Franco's military coup in 1936. Alongside the geopolitical events, Tremlett spotlights cultural figures including Miguel de Cervantes and painters Velázquez and Goya. Tremlett packs a ton of information into a concise package, though the lack of a narrative through line sometimes makes for a choppy reading experience. Still, this is an accessible introduction to Spain's multifaceted history. Illus. (Sept.)

The British-born Madrid correspondent for the Guardian offers an enthusiastic history of the country he has called home for 20 years. A "recently naturalized 'new' Spaniard," Tremlett employs as a unifying theme Spanish philosopher Miguel de Unamuno's "four winds" theory to illustrate the fertile mixing of diverse peoples who have swept across the Iberian Peninsula for centuries. As long as those winds have been allowed to blow through--Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and beyond--the country has flourished. However, when the winds have been stifled--e.g., by Isabella and Ferdinand when they expelled the Moors and instigated the Inquisition, or during Franco's years of totalitarian rule--the country has "withered." Tremlett is concise yet thorough in his historical journey, which he wisely begins by discussing Spain's geography. The Iberian Peninsula's proximity to the coast of Africa and to significant trade hubs in the Mediterranean has dictated much of its geopolitics over the centuries, and the tug of war between the Christian north and Muslim south has resulted in some of Spain's most treasured cultural legacies. "The always porous frontier across which Muslims and Christians had traded and raided for centuries allowed for the import of cultural riches," writes the author. "Toledo was awash with ancient manuscripts of the kind that had filled the magnificent libraries of Córdoba, many of which had been smuggled north before or after the city was twice sacked by Berbers in the four years after 1009." During the early years of the Age of Exploration, Spain became one of the primary European traffickers of enslaved people from the African continent. Following the nation's golden age of arts and culture, which Tremlett explores in appealing detail, it experienced a protracted period of absolutism, revolution, and civil unrest, culminating in Franco's dictatorship. The author then brings us up the present, which includes ongoing insurgencies in Catalonia and the Basque Country. The many bright photos are a welcome bonus to the well-researched narrative. A fresh, accessible take on a rich history; ideal reading for anyone planning a trip to Spain. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.