Driving over Lemons, An Optimist in Andalucia
by Chris Stewart
Stewart's memoir about moving with his wife to a farm in Alpujarras is charming and insightful. Unlike many expatriates, Stewart manages to ground himself far enough into the community to make lasting friends -- as well as a home for his young daughter.
Ghosts of Spain
by Giles Tremlett
Tremlett captures the Spanish character, history and modern politics in this masterful portrait, interweaving the story of his love for the country (where he has lived for 20 years) with interviews, anecdotes and observation.
Platero and I
by Juan Ramon Jimenez, Eloise Roach (Translator)
In this autobiographical tale, the Nobel Prize-winner chronicles the wanderings of a donkey and his meditative master through Andalusia, capturing the rhythms and traditions of village life.
Food and Wines of Spain
by Penelope Casas
A classic collection of 400 recipes, interwoven with cultural commentary and the culinary history of Spain
South from Granada; a Sojourn in Southern Spain
by Gerald Brenan
An amusing and insightful account of Spanish village life in the early 20th century from a brilliant interpreter of Spain and Spanish culture.
The Painter of Birds
by Lídia Jorge
Moorish Spain
by Richard Fletcher
Historian Richard Fletcher reveals the Moorish culture in all its fascinating disparity and gives us history and vivid storytelling at its best.
Duende
by Jason Webster
Duende is an account of Webster's years spent in Spain feeding his obsessive interest in flamenco: he subjects himself to the tyranny of his guitar teacher, practising for hours on end until his fingers bleed and becomes involved in a passionate affair with Lola, a flamenco dancer.
The Alhambra
by Robert Irwin
Irwin's brief, indispensable guide introduces the stunning Moorish palace and fortress complex, revealing its mysteries, myths and significance with wit and insight.
Tales of the Alhambra
by Washington Irving
Tales of the Alhambra is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories by Washington Irving, chronicling his journey to Granada in the 1800s.
The Ornament of the World, How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain
by Maria Rosa Menocal
A lively, illuminating portrait of the Andalucian Kingdom, its cultural achievements and religious tolerance from the eighth century to 1492
The First Global Village: How Portugal Changed the World
by Martin Page
The Story of the Moors in Spain
by Stanley Lane-Poole
A wonderfully readable, sweeping tale of splendor and tragedy, first published in 1866.
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.
Spain: The Root and the Flower
by John A. Crow
An absorbing, well-written account of Spanish cultural history from prehistory to the Romans, Jews, Moors, Golden Age, and on to Franco and his legacy in modern Spain.
Journey to Portugal, In Pursuit of Portugal's History and Culture
by Jose Saramago
Jose Saramago's richly detailed account of his journey across Portugal in 1979. He combines his vivid impressions of the Portuguese landscape and people with a dose of history, fiction and meditations.
Andalusia: Recipes from Seville and Beyond
by Jose Pizarro
Award-winning chef, Jose Pizarro takes readers on a journey through Andalusia's most delicious dishes.
A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening
by Mário de Carvalho
Originally published in Portuguese in 1994, this historical novel follows its protagonist, Lucius Valerius Quintius, as he navigates civil unrest at the end of the Roman Empire, and the beginning of the Christian era.
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.
A Traveller's History of Portugal
by Ian Robertson
A lively, admirably concise survey from prehistory to the present, great for travelers to Portugal who would like an overview of the country's history and culture.
Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree
by Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali tells us the story of the aftermath of the fall of Granada. Ali's novel provides a window on the late 15th century world of al Andalus Spain, a world where Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand and the powerful heads of the Church have battled their way back to power in most of the country and have made treaties with the remaining Muslim population, by narrating a family saga of those who tried to survive after the collapse of their world.
Culinaria Spain
by Marion Trutter (Editor)
Organized by region, this profusely illustrated guide to virtually all aspects of Spanish cuisine is full of recipes, tips and cultural information.
Eyewitness Guide Seville and Andalusia
by Eyewitness Guides
This wonderfully organized and visually rich guide features excellent maps and essays on the culture, history and geography of the region. With a pullout city map of Seville.
Spain & Portugal Adventure Map
by National Geographic
A double-sided full color map of Spain and Portugal at a scale of 1:1,000,000 with good shaded relief, topographic detail, roads, and waterways.
Small Memories
by Jose Saramago
In this contemplative memoir, the Portuguese Nobel laureate recalls a childhood both dark and magical, split between the growing city of Lisbon and the tiny village of Azinhaga.
The New Spaniards
by John Hooper
John Hooper's fascinating study brings to life the new Spain of the 21st century
Death in the Afternoon
by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway's classic exploration of the history and pageantry of bullfighting, and the deeper themes of cowardice, bravery, sport and tragedy that it inspires.
Spain Revealed: Cordoba's Mezquita
by Raezer & Raezer
The definitive guide to the Great Mosque of Cordoba .
Blood Wedding
by Federico García Lorca (Ted Hughes -Translator))
Garcia Lorca, one of Spain's most deeply appreciated and highly revered poets and dramatists, explores vendetta, desire, repression, ritual, and the constraints and commitments of the rural Spanish community, in this classic tragedy set in rural Andalusia.
Spain, A Traveler's Literary Companion
by Peter R. Bush, Lisa Dillman
