Sorry I posted twice. We are traveling and my phone jammed.

Okay I just did this for Spain!

I agree with shadow of the wiind. I then tried the prequel or sequel and it was way too long and rambling — could not finish.

My teen is reading the Queens Vow. Seems like trashy YA historical fiction.

I started another called something like the Thief and the Nigjtengale — historical fiction. Terrible, could not finish.

The Last Jew about the 1492 Jewish expulsion and it was a light read page turner, well written for that kind of historical fiction, and good character development.

The Sun Also Rises but beware that anti semitism is basically a major character in the book. I was shocked because I hadn’t realized there was so much casual unquestioned anti-Semitism in it—but at the end of the day I found it kind of interesting how anti semitisim is sort of an unquestioned driver for a lot of the drama in the book.

For Whom the Bell Tolls might be better — about the Spanish civil war—haven’t read it in decades though.

I’m currently reading The Carpenter’s Pencil which is good but definitely “literature”—a little confusing. It’s about political prisoners during the early Franco regime. It keeps changing time and voice without warning.

I’ve got The Ghosts of Spain recommended above in my bag to read when im done with the carpenter’s pencil.


Another really popular one is Cathedral of the Sea about medieval Barcelona and the construction of a big cathedral. I didn’t read it but watched the Netflix series which was super depressing. Basically, plague, war, rape, famine, political somethings in which poor people don’t do well, rape, and then back to plague and start it all over again. Probably very realistic for medieval life.

Graham Greene's Monsignor Quixote for Spain

Okay I just did this for Spain!

I agree with shadow of the wiind. I then tried the prequel or sequel and it was way too long and rambling — could not finish.

My teen is reading the Queens Vow. Seems like trashy YA historical fiction.

I started another called something like the Thief and the Nigjtengale — historical fiction. Terrible, could not finish.

The Last Jew about the 1492 Jewish expulsion and it was a light read page turner, well written for that kind of historical fiction, and good character development.

The Sun Also Rises but beware that anti semitism is basically a major character in the book. I was shocked because I hadn’t realized there was so much casual unquestioned anti-Semitism in it—but at the end of the day I found it kind of interesting how anti semitisim is sort of an unquestioned driver for a lot of the drama in the book.

For Whom the Bell Tolls might be better — about the Spanish civil war—haven’t read it in decades though.

I’m currently reading The Carpenter’s Pencil which is good but definitely “literature”—a little confusing. It’s about political prisoners during the early Franco regime. It keeps changing time and voice without warning.

I’ve got The Ghosts of Spain recommended above in my bag to read when im done with the carpenter’s pencil.


Another really popular one is Cathedral of the Sea about medieval Barcelona and the construction of a big cathedral. I didn’t read it but watched the Netflix series which was super depressing. Basically, plague, war, rape, famine, political somethings in which poor people don’t do well, rape, and then back to plague and start it all over again. Probably very realistic for medieval life.

Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Silent Past - Giles Tremlett

This is non fiction but a very well written book on Spain's past and present and society in general

You may have seen this already but has some interesting ideas:

“The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Lucia Graves translator)

Historical fiction set in Barcelona”

4.3 ⭐️’s on Goodreads”



The Fountains of Silence by Ruth Sepetys

Historical fiction/Young adult fiction set in Madrid, Spain.
4.31 ⭐️’s on Goodreads”


“The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile

Historical fiction set in Segovia, Granada & Seville, Spain.

3.92 ⭐️’s on Goodreads “


“The Spanish Promise by Karen Swan

Romance/historical fiction set in Madrid, Spain.

3.96 ⭐️’s on Goodreads”



https://www.travelbugtonic.com/blog/spain-books

From the comments:
“How about a book, set in the seventies, and based on a true story, of a British family moving to Spain in their Rolls Royce:
The Fontainebleau – where the love affair with Nerja, Spain began. “


Ok, now I want to visit Spain!

Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Spain by Chris Stewart

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

I forgot about this book but want to read it again!

And all his other books that followed the initial one.

If you are open to historical novels with light fantasy mixed in you should consider Guy Gavriel Kay— Lions of Al Rassan is a great book set at the time of the Reconquista and Song for Arbonne is set in medieval Provence.

The Shadow of the Wind

From Here You Can’t See Paris

Anonymous wrote:A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

I forgot about this book but want to read it again!

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

The Sun Also Rises

I'll be spending August in Southern France and Spain. Any good literature to help get me excited about the trip?