We have suddenly decided to take a trip to Spain in two weeks. Does anyone have any good book recommendations for me? I like fiction and especially historical fiction and well written biographies. Any recommendations?

Pat

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. You won't be able to put it down, historical novel taking place in Barcelona after the Civil War. Another book I love, though non-fiction, is The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky.

I also loved Shadow of the Wind. Another great novel set in Spain is the Spanish Bow - I think I got the recommendation for that one here on fodors.

There are several older threads on this. here's one. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...p-to-spain.cfm

Try to do a search books Spain you will find the other. I enjoyed several of the mentioned books including Driving Over Lemons.

More here http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-portugal.cfm

Thank you all so much. I will start with Shadow of the Wind. I typed my request inaccurately. We are going to Spain for two weeks in October so I have plenty of time to read some of the wonderful suggestions in the two threads. I love to travel and I love to read so this forum perfect for me in planning my trips.

Pat

wanttogo, I would suggest GHOSTS OF SPAIN: Travels Through Spain and Its Silent Past by Giles Tremlett. Excellent nonfiction which provides a backdrop to modern Spain and its painful legacy from the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s.Spain is a complex country and is now undergoing many changes and setbacks economically and socially but it is a travler's dream.

Not a novel and written some time ago but you might find Iberia by Hispanophile James Michener interesting.

Non-fiction
Barelona-Robert Hughes
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For a view of the darker side of Spanairds
Camilo José Cela-The Family of Pascual Duarte
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The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez-Reverte. Excellent.

The first two Captain Alatriste books by same author were good, first was better, haven't read the others.

"Instructions to save the world" by Rosa Montero
"Beatriz and Celestial Bodies" by Lucia Extebarria

I just reread Shadow of the Wind and believe it would make a fabulous movie! Now I'm set to read his new novel The Angel's Game-set once again in Barcelona!

"Monsignor Quixote" by Graham Greene. A modern day "Don Quijote" where a Catholic priest and a Marxist ex-mayor set out on a Spanish journey worthy of Sancho Panza and his master.
http://www.amazon.com/Monsignor-Quix.../dp/0671458183

"The factory of light" by Michael Jacobs. Fantastic story from a remote Andalusian village that, because of the events set in motion by the author himself, came to a very unlikely fame both in Spain and abroad a few years ago.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Factory-Ligh.../dp/0719561736
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...bs-588689.html

Paul Preston's biography "Franco" is an excellent read:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Franco-Biogr.../dp/0006862101

"Roads to Santiago" by the Dutch author Cees Nooteboom, a Nobel prize favourite for many years. Poetic journey with lots of substance through some twenty-five articles about Spanish people, places, art and culture. Can't stop reading it again and again.
http://www.amazon.com/Roads-Santiago.../dp/0156011581

Jason Webster's highly acclaimed debut novel "Duende" is perhaps the best introduction to the art of flamenco ever written in English.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003...ravel.features
http://www.jasonwebster.net/JasonWebster/home.html

"Obabakoak" by Bernardo Atxaga. Award winning novel about the fictious Basque village Obaba. Atxaga is often portrayed as the Gabriel García Márquez of the Basque country.
http://www.amazon.com/Obabakoak-Nove.../dp/0679749586

I don't know if "Les veus del Pamano" (Voices from Pamano) by Jaume Cabré is translated to English. Strange if it isn't (I read it in Norwegian). A fabolous book about the "return" of the Civil War. A true reading experience.
http://www.visat.cat/traduccions_lit...e=2&idioma=esp

If you like historical fiction, I highly recommend the movies Pan's labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-winning, beautiful and brutal historical adventure) and Vacas (Julio Medem's epic masterpiece about two Basque families through three generations from the late 19th century).

Pan's labyrinth: http://www.panslabyrinth.com/
Vacas: http://www.amazon.com/Vacas-Emma-Su%.../dp/B00005RY9Z

Kimhe:

Thank you so much for taking the time to list all these titles. Several of them have been added to my list of "must read before I go" and I appreciate the recommendations.

Pat

My pleasure.
Kim

Laurie Lee's As I Walked out One Midsummer Morning is a good memoir of his trip through Spain just before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War

I'm bookmarking this list for summer reading. I read most of non-Captain Alatriste Arturo Perez-Reverte books a few years ago and really enjoyed them. After our first trip to Barcelona last month, I read Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonse Falcones and enjoyed it.

Cervanrtes' "Don Quixote" has not been surpassed in all these centuries.
Besides, some titles above are strongly biased, check before reading.

"Winter in Madrid" is set at the time of the Spanish Civil War; it's by C. J. Ransom, whose historical novels set at the time of the Tudors have won considerable praise.

My favorite series, set in medieval Spain, is by Caroline Roe. The books are mysteries featuring Blind Isaac, a Jewish physician, and are so good that I re-read them at least once a year.

Nothing new to add but to also recommend Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, really enjoyed it and I'm currently reading Winter in Madrid, really enjoying it...I'm going to both these cities in September and like you love reading books set in cities I'm going to or have been to, so I'm really enjoying this thread.