Rating: 
Summary: Exciting and superior survey History of Spain
Review: This engagingly written survey History of Spain hits the spot. Williams has a lot of material and a heck of a lot of conflict to cover, and he does it well. He starts in pre-history and is about as detailed as you can get for a survey. I had never heard of the Tartessos (the earliest Iberians) and the Guanches (a tribe that dominated the Balearic Islands in ancient times) before. Williams covers the Roman empire and the influence of the Punic Wars. Barcelona was named after the royal family that included Hannibal, for example. He also explains the birth of Christianity, adding that Pontius Pilate was born in what is now Tarragona, and moves on to the fall of the Western Empire, the triumph of the Visigoths, complete with gorey detail and the arrival of the Moors. At first the History of Spain is the tale in great part of the Iberian peninsula. Before the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella, the central kingdom of Castille might have united with Portugal rather than Aragon. The chapter on the Renaissance is probably the best written, illustrating vividly how Spain brought together such diverse characters as Martin Luther, Suleiman the Magnificent, the Tudors of England and Montezuma of Mexico in one Century. Williams also discusses the evolution of Art and Literature throughout the book, never omitting to show that Titian, El Greco, Cervantes, Velasquez, Goya, Dali, Picasso, Miro, Machado and the like are responsible for diffusing and creating the glory that is Spanish culture, and sometimes too that which is not so Glorious. Williams doesn't neglect the Inquisition, but explains its birth, transmutations and really odd dying out. He also does well in explaining the lackluster years of the 19th century, the birth of modern Spain, with revolutions, 'pronunciamentos' and finally civil war, and the emergence of Franco. He explains regional unrest and is particularly good at showing how Catalonia and the Basque regions developed differently than other regions. He keeps the personality of monarchs and political leaders in sight, so much so, that if I were a Bourbon I might be insulted. In fact, this well-written and informative survey really only has one flaw, that is, more or less understandable given the subject. It seems slightly biased, a little too pro-Spanish. Although Williams doesn't shrink from showing the flaws of leaders, he does however spend a great deal on what is called apparently "The Black Legend," the literary view of Spaniards as villains. While this is certainly desirable, it seems perhaps he goes too far. He says the legend began with a hyperbolic monk in the Americas who exaggerated the abuse and murder of Native Americans by the conquistadors. While he handily refutes the claims of this one man, there are still some things which seem questionable. As early in the chapters on the Moors for example, one wonders if the cruelty and debauchery he attributes to their most perverse monarchs doesn't find similar outlets in the worst of the Christian monarchs. He flatly states that many of the agricultural innovations of the Moors were really Roman innovations carried over by them. He rather underplays the cruelty of the Inquisition by saying it wasn't particularly bad or 'unjust' for the time, and that there were more Religious murders in England than during the Inquisition. This seems at least very arguable. He calls Phillip II's enemy, the Dutch leader, William of Orange, 'an essentially corrupt figure,' but doesn't mention how so or if there would be those who disagree with this assessment. In one refutation of 'the Black Legend' he gives the intermarriage between Spanish and native peoples in the New World as proof that the view is unjust. Obviously a smear is going to be unjust, but simply allowing intermarriage between colonizing and colonized doesn't prove that there are no abuses going on. It is not that he doesn't have a point (one he's not alone in making) but it's an oversimplified one. He doesn't mention incredible caste systems that exist in Latin America, or that the 'Indian Leaders' of those countries could only come to power after great civil unrest and oppositions by the 'Spaniards.' And he has one really shocking line about Native Americans in Northern countries eking out their pathetic existence on reservations. While the reader will see his point, the very phraseology seems disrespectful of the Native Americans. But that of course is not really a judgement about Spain itself. So, in spite of the fact that you may want to take some of Williams assessments or even his adoration of Spain with a grain of salt, this is still an excellent survey. There is much to learn and be introduced to, and Williams tackles the job with gusto. Each chapter ends with a list of sites germaine to the period, and the maps, of the Iberian portion of Spain only, are quite explanatory. This book is a singularly satisfying reading experience that gives a first grade impression of a powerful culture. This would make an excellent companion to The Lonely Planet Spain which is a great guidebook.
Rating: 
Summary: A thoroughly readable history
Review: With this book, Williams has created that rarity of rarities--an extremely readable, almost even enjoyable history of a country and its peoples. Never heavy-handed, and never too academic or wordy for his audience, Williams gives us a concise but thorough history of one of the most lovable countries on the planet. I head a study-abroad program to Spain each year for college students, and this is their text--they find it interesting and stimulating and accessible, three of the strongest criteria for successful books there are. Plus, I know that they're getting everything they need for a basic survey of the history and culture of Spain. I highly recommend this book for anyone who's interested in the country; you'll need something else if you want to get into great detail about particular kings or tyrants or political or artistic movements, but this book is a beautiful basic intro.
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