Follow Here To Purchase Guide to Spain for History Travellers (Guides for History Travellers)

Author: Bob Fowke

Publisher: YouCaxton Publishing

ASIN: B007NZLV3U

Turning his talents from writing numerous well-received history and science books for children, Bob Fowke has once again come up with a real treasure – this time with the international traveller in mind. Adding to the three other books in the series of Guides for History Travellers (with the previous destinations being France, Turkey and Greece), Fowke has now turned his attention to a land that is regarded by some as austere, and by others as bathed in blood of both the human and bovine kind, namely Spain. But don’t expect an overly portentous or sombre work – far from it, in fact, as Guide to Spain for History Travellers is a rollicking overview of the history of that much troubled and wartorn (historically speaking) land, geared towards the traveller who seeks relief in transit from those dreaded intercontinental flights. This relatively short, but clearly well-researched, book should provide you with ample thought, while tickling your funny bone all the way there.

A very far cry from dull academic treatises, Guide to Spain for History Travellers takes you from the huntsman (or woman, as Fowke takes care to point out) of Altamira all the way through to the last unsuccessful attempt made at a coup that “diehard supporters of the old Francoist regime” launched in February 1981, rounding it all off with a helpful timeline and list of rulers, together with their dates. In addition to highlighting the most important aspects of Spanish history over the centuries, which Fowke presents in narrative sequence, the chapters contain numerous maps and line drawings that reflect not only Fowke’s multisided talents, but also his warm and highly accessible sense of good humor. He titillates our desire to venture into the unknown, while refraining from boring us with a plethora of detail, but yet having the foresight to provide us with helpful guide tips along the way.

Clearly keeping his target audience in mind, Fowke makes what might be a daunting task of trying to come to terms with another culture into a great deal of fun. For instance, after exploring the etymology of the country’s name (which he attributes to the Carthaginians’ sharp-eyed observation that the peninsula was overrun with rabbits, which they called “sphan”), he saucily adds “not to say that ‘Spanish’ means ‘rabbit like.’ That would be unfair to one of the world’s great languages.” Definitely one for fair play (as well as for a tongue in the cheek), Fowke gives us much to think about in Guide to Spain for History Travellers – that is, when you can take a break from rolling around in the aisle laughing.

Follow Here To Purchase Guide to Spain for History Travellers (Guides for History Travellers)