The recent Rick Stein on Spain television series has recently generated a huge amount of justified interest in Spain. This has complemented our efforts at Culture Spain where, as you know, we constantly do our bit to spread the word about Spain!
Interestingly, we will soon be joined by Books4Spain, a new online bookstore specialising in English language books about Spain. In fact, the express aim of Books4Spain is to help you discover books about Spain – on subjects ranging from food and wine to history and culture. Books4Spain will also feature books about travelling in Spain throughout the ages along with an array of other topics to do with this extraordinary country.
Books4Spain - for all the books about Spain you could ever want!
In Rick Stein’s first programme about Spain he mentioned the tremendous changes Spain has been through since his childhood visits. Well, Books4Spain will have several books by accomplished authors such as Giles Tremlett and John Hooper which will help you understand the tremendous transition Spain has been through since Franco’s death and its joining of the European Union (or EEC, as it was then). All of this will be put in its political, cultural and historical context and should mean that you will have available a one-stop shop for all you ever wanted to know about Spain.
Of course, Rick Stein’s journey through Spain also echoes the well-trodden path of many real and fictional characters, from Don Quijote to Laurie Lee. Books4Spain have told me that they will have a comprehensive selection of books covering ‘Travels in Spain’ from the 17th Century right through to the present day. These will provide you with a fascinating insight into Spain’s social, cultural and political development over the centuries – and what shapes the Spanish character (something that often perplexes many of us!).
As you know, Rick Stein on Spain also mentions Duende more than once – a term associated with Flamenco – and Books4Spain, I am assured, will have one of the best selections of English language books related to Flamenco on the web. Most of these, I am told, will be carefully selected by an expert in the field of Spanish music and dance and so this should be a real treat for any aficionados!
Books4Spain is not open for business quite yet as they are just finishing off their creation of a user-friendly and comprehensive, independent online book store. However, I have seen the demo site and it looks fantastic and should provide you with all the information about Spain you could ever wish for within an easy and accessible system!
Indeed, Books4Spain should be ready to help you discover Spain through its books (and ebooks) in early September of this year. I am told there is just a little more testing, tweaking and fine tuning to do before the launch – which I shall advise you of once it occurs. Who knows they may even feature some of my books – three of which are currently going into print…