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The Soul of Spain: The Sorrow and Glory of a Civilization Author: John Crow Publisher: CITIC Publishing Group
The Soul of Spain: The Sorrow and Glory of a Civilization Author: John Crow Publisher: CITIC Publishing Group
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Description
Introduction · · · · · ·
★A history of Spanish culture spanning more than two thousand years, revealing the contradictory core of Spain's soul.
★See the ups and downs of history, and appreciate the mixed and diverse culture; feel the passionate vitality of a nation, and also experience its sadness and hesitation]
★A history full of flesh and blood, a story full of affection. A book to understand Spain and fall in love with Spain
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【Content Introduction】
This is a history of Spanish culture spanning more than 2,000 years. Since the dawn of civilization on the Iberian Peninsula, the land of Spain has experienced the conquest of the Roman Empire, the invasion of the Visigoths, the rule of the Moors, the Christian reconquest movement, the unification of the two Catholic monarchs, the rise and fall of the Habsburg and Bourbon dynasties, the civil war and the Franco dictatorship, and finally the rebirth of the post-Franco era. This book examines the above-mentioned major historical stages and focuses on the ideological trends and national characteristics under the appearance of political events. The book cuts into the history of Spain from many aspects such as architecture, literature, art, society, and politics, showing the mixed and diverse spiritual background of Spain, explaining how Spain, located on the edge of Europe, integrated the secular and religious cultures of Rome, North Africa, and Arabia, how it burst out brilliant literary and artistic sparks, how it reached the peak of religious enthusiasm and national unification in the 8-century Reconquista, how it opened the Age of Discovery but missed various development opportunities, and how it experienced the pain of civil war in the tearing between the left and the right.
This is also a gaze full of affection at the soul of Spain. The author, John Crow, studied in Spain in the 1930s, and had close contacts with famous writers such as Lorca and Jiménez. He witnessed the unrest on the eve of the Civil War and had a strong ideological resonance with the "Generation of 1898". With his rich academic background, on-the-ground observations, and deep feelings of love and resentment for this land, Crow sketched for us a profile of Spain's charming and contradictory character: emotional and abstinent, creative and conservative, extremely divided and striving for unity, and a sense of tragedy hidden behind the proud and ardent ideals.
Following Crowe's beautiful and moving words, we are able to witness the historical evolution of Spain over the past two thousand years, savor its literary and artistic gardens, appreciate the unique spiritual qualities of this nation, and understand why Spain has become what it is today.
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【Editor's recommendation】
1. Connecting more than 2,000 years of Spanish history with cultural clues
Spain's history is complex and there are great differences between regions. This book takes a different approach, starting from a cultural perspective, taking core political and historical events as the outline, and the customs and thoughts behind them as the hidden thread, to understand how Spain became what it is today. This can help us grasp and connect important historical facts, transcend boring historical details, and no longer get lost in fragments.
2. Contradictory temperament: the key to understanding Spain
Passionate and unrestrained? Developed in literature and art? Enthusiastic about religion? The decline of the old colonial empire? Local separatism? ... How should Spain be defined? Once you understand the character of a nation, it will be easier to understand the facts about it. This book keenly unravels the historical clues and outlines the charming and contradictory character profile of Spain. All our vague impressions of Spain can be suddenly cleared up.
3. A feast of Spanish literature, art and thought
Tramp literature, classic epics, masters of the Golden Age, religious architectural wonders... With his solid knowledge of Spanish language and literature, the author Kroll has spent a lot of effort to introduce the rise and fall of literature and art. He has also cited a large number of moving chapters, allowing us to quickly and concentratedly understand the shining cultural essence of Spain and feel its charm.
4. A book full of love and resentment, sincere and touching, and you will fall in love with Spain
The author John Crow has a deep connection with Spain. His friendship with Lorca and others, what he saw and heard on the eve of the Spanish Civil War, his resonance with the ideas of the "Generation of 1898", and his many visits to Spain have made him feel a complex love and responsibility for this land. This is conveyed vividly through his beautiful and popular writing style. Even readers who don't know Spain will be deeply moved and psychologically close to this country.
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【Celebrity/Media Recommendation】
The book is characterized by the author's deep insight into the customs of the land of Spain, the fundamental psychology of its people based on a shared geography and history, and the passionate introduction to the Spanish culture that is far more dazzling than the political process. The book covers various basic political facts, but what is more important to the author and the reader is the local characteristics of the country. The author first visited Spain in 1928 and made many field trips thereafter, gaining valuable insights and wisdom, and conveying them to readers in vivid language, reflecting the erudition of an outstanding Spanish humanities researcher.
Times Literary Supplement
Author John Crowe attempts to illuminate the soul of Spain by examining its social and cultural customs and movements, its somewhat divisive temperament, and its long history of art and literature, political beliefs, and political conflict. ... A highlight is the many vivid and rich excerpts, either from the great men mentioned or from the records of what was seen. An excellent guide, a sincere appreciation.
Kirkus Reviews
About the Author · · · · · ·
[US] John A. Crow (1906-2001)
Professor Emeritus of the Department of Spanish Language and Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles. He began teaching at the university in 1937 and served as department head for two terms. After retiring in 1974, he continued to supervise doctoral students for many years.
In the late 1820s, while studying for a master's degree at Columbia University, Crowe met the famous Spanish poet Lorca, who was visiting New York at the time. After that, Crowe went to the University of Madrid to continue his studies and obtained his doctorate in 1933. He reunited with Lorca in Madrid and was introduced by Lorca to the active circle of young intellectuals in the Madrid Student Residence (Residencia de Estudiantes). This valuable experience of studying and living in the Second Republic on the eve of the Spanish Civil War made Crowe and Spain have a special bond.
Crowe was also a prominent Latin American scholar. In a field dominated by Eurocentric perspectives, he was one of the pioneers in establishing the discipline of Latin American literature and culture. His landmark 1946 book, The Epic of Latin America, provided guidance for generations of students who took related courses.
Crowe's accessible and engaging writing style has won him a wide readership beyond the academic community.
