To understand more about Spain and it's people is to read about its history, in particular it's more recent history. I have listed below some of the books that I have read and would recommend to those of you who would like to know more. 

My apologies for the short introduction below;

I,  and am sure I am not alone, fell in love with Spain the first time I stepped on Spanish soil, although it in my case it could have been a very different experience

It was 1965, only Seventeen, in the merchant navy, and had just arrived in Barcelona, totally oblivious as to what had happened less than 30 years previously. My first experience of what is now my beloved & adopted country, was a member of the Guardia Civil pointing a machine gun at me!, totally my fault as I had tried to take a shortcut through a railway carriage in Barcelona docks. He wanted me to take the other, longer route, I and my friends agreed to do has he asked, he smiled and that was that!. This was and has been my only negative experience of Spain. (Lucky maybe) but being young, obviously naive and totally unaware of what had gone before, it had little effect on me.. 

Now more knowledgeable, thanks to reading up on the subject, I consider myself very fortunate that I did not live in Spain during those earlier times, in particular during the Spanish civil war 1936-1939,  through the second world war (where Spain was basically forgotten) and onwards from there. 

Andalucia, in particular, (where I now live, have done so for over seven years and hope to spend the rest of my life ), suffered untold & unspeakable sufferings. In 1936, the rebel army under Franco landed here to start their campaign, to overthrow republican Spain and left unimaginable grief in their wake. One author refers in her book to the "killing fields of Andalucia"   **

The horrors of what happened in the war carried on into the late 50s *** , but how, unless you lived through such events, can you know  what it was really like.

 I would argue that Spain has a greater culture, depth of feeling and nationalism than any other country in the world. In fact where many other countries have, or are, losing their identity, Spain retains theirs. The Spanish people are extremely proud of their heritage and long may it remain so. They are also very family oriented , the "niños" are spoilt rotten and the elderly are respected. Although Spain is also regarded as a secular society, the Church still has a great deal of influence, you only have to witness the events during Semana Santa to realise this.

Of course, it has not been without pain, suffering and deprivation. No doubt in the distant past there was much, but, in more recent times, still within some peoples memory, just, there was extreme suffering. Particularly in the south, where, because the area was almost totally given over to agriculture, was by its very nature, poor anyway.

I sat next to an old chap the other day in our village,  who looked in his eighties, as we passed the time of day, I thought, he was there, albeit only very young, but he was there. He was also there after the civil war had ended and, while growing up during that time, must have witnessed some of what happened then. Which, particularly in this area, was probably nearly just as bad as witnessed during the civil war itself. *** . 

 It is said by many Spanish people that while Franco lived and ruled, the Spanish people slept, and only since have they reawakened. To live amongst the Spanish, as I do, is to know what a fun loving, friendly people they are and how difficult it must have been for them living under a dictatorship.        

I would argue though, that General Franco, for all his failings, and for all that happened during this time, obviously had Spain in his heart, although as I have indicated before, I do not feel capable or competent in commenting on what happened, preferring to leave that to my peers. I do believe though, that his most redeeming feature ( in my opinion) ,was the reinstallation of the Monarchy and King Juan Carlos to the throne. I think that without King Juan Carlos, Spain would not be the vibrant, prosperous and democratic country it now is. 

There is much that is still secret, not talked about and therefore still simmering under the surface,  maybe some things are best left unsaid , but now there are now moves afoot to do just that, release the secrets, talk about the past an hopefully exorcise the ghosts.

For those of you, and I am sure there are many, that are interested in the history of Spain, feel Spain, and want to know more, there are many books that are worth reading. I have listed the ones below that I have read and would thoroughly recommend.

First and foremost must be  "For Whom The Bell Tolls" Ernest Hemingway. I can honestly say it is a book that I literally could not put down. Although I assume a mostly fictional , you are actually THERE, living what was happening.

One other book I also could not put down was "Between Two fires" - David Baird. Although I would recommend reading up on the civil war first, to get a real feeling of what happened immediately afterwards. Some of the witness testimony is particularly gripping .

Then come the  books that deal with factual & historical records, where some books gloss over what actually happened, these explain in great detail, not trying to apportion guilt, but try to explain to the layman, why.   

My recommendations are

 "For Whom The Bell Tolls"  Ernest Hemingway

" The Spanish Civil War "- "A Very Short Introduction". Helen Graham *

"The Battle For Spain" - " the Spanish civil war 1936-1939"  Antony Beevor

"Between Two fires" .- David Baird. *   (This is the history of of Andalucia in the aftermath of the civil war and beyond.)

                Of course there are others and some no doubt as good, but these are the only ones I have read.

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