A History of Spain

Contemporary Review, April, 2004

A History of Spain. Simon Barton. Palgrave Macmillan. [pounds sterling]42.50 ([pounds sterling]13.99 p.b.). xviii 302 pages. ISBN 0-333-63258-3. This latest title in Palgrave's 'Essential History' series gives readers 'a clear and concise overview of the historical development of Spain, from its origins to the modern era'.

In order to describe the slow evolution of the modern Spanish kingdom the author has had to be selective: art and literature, for example, have perforce been given less attention. He points out how geography has influenced Spanish history, how Spain was the only part of western Europe, apart from Sicily, to be conquered by the Mohammedans, how Spain seemed to many never to have been part of Europe--a view enhanced by Franco's long dictatorship but shown here to be misleading. The author shows that only by understanding Spain's complex history can one begin to understand the problems, failures and successes of modern Spain.