I really loved the historical aspects presented in this book. However, it didn't quite measure up to his other works. In this particular one, we lack a story or plot that effectively combines fiction with historical figures and facts.

It's a bit of a letdown as I was expecting a more engaging and seamless integration.

Additionally, some of the parts related to bullfighting and the arts failed to pique my interest.

Maybe it's because they didn't seem to have a direct connection to the overall historical narrative or perhaps the way they were described didn't capture my imagination.

Nevertheless, I still appreciate the author's effort in presenting the historical content, but I hope for a more captivating and well-structured story in his future works.

I'm truly glad that I made the choice to select this, my very first Michener book, to read both before, during, and after a recent journey to Spain.

The structure of the book is given the lightest of touches through chapters that are mostly organized around major cities and regions. However, in reality, it is an almost stream-of-consciousness narrative of his travels throughout the country, spanning from the 1930s all the way through the late 1960s.

During his travels, he has meetings with a diverse range of people including writers, scholars, priests, bullfighting aficionados, museum directors, nobility, and many more. This narrative is informed by a lifetime of reading.

After reading, I came away with the feeling that I had gained a sense of the sweep of Spanish history. It covered everything from the Romans, through the Goths and Muslims, the reconquista, the centuries of monarchy, the Civil War, and even the Franco dictatorship which was still ruling at the time the book was published.

If you are in desperate need of a comprehensive understanding of Spanish history or want to know in-depth about the country as it is today, I would suggest looking elsewhere. However, I can wholeheartedly recommend Iberia as a fascinating and personal introduction to the past by a writer who clearly has a deep love for both the people and the place.

This is an outstanding review about traveling to Spain, and it also includes a brief review of Portugal.

After reading it, I am now completely determined to visit that region of the world as soon as possible.

The part of the book that discussed Ernest Hemingway was truly captivating.

Hemingway's connection to Spain and his vivid descriptions of the country in his works have always intrigued me.

The review further enhanced my interest by highlighting some of the specific places and experiences that Hemingway had in Spain.

It makes me eager to explore those same locations and perhaps gain a deeper understanding of Hemingway's inspiration.

In addition to the Hemingway aspect, the review also provided valuable insights into the general attractions and culture of Spain and Portugal.

It mentioned the beautiful architecture, delicious cuisine, and rich history that can be found in both countries.

Overall, this review has left me with a strong desire to embark on a journey to Spain and Portugal and discover all that they have to offer.

I can't wait to make it happen.

After spending a month traveling in Spain, I had a strong curiosity to explore Michener's own accounts of his travels approximately 50 years ago. I thought it would be extremely interesting to see how Spain had changed over the years and what his perspectives were.

As I delved into the book, I found that some parts were truly fascinating. They provided vivid descriptions of the landscapes, cultures, and traditions of Spain, which made me feel as if I was right there with him. However, there were also parts that were rather ho-hum, lacking in excitement and failing to hold my attention.

Moreover, some sections only merited skimming as they seemed to be overly detailed or repetitive. Additionally, I noticed that Michener had very idiosyncratic ideas about Spain and its people. While I respected his opinions, there were some that I simply disagreed with.

One aspect that I found rather surprising was his omission of any opinions about the Franco dictatorship. During his trips to Spain, Franco was still in power, and yet he made no mention of this significant political regime. This omission left me wondering if he had deliberately chosen to overlook it or if he simply had no strong views on the matter. Overall, reading Michener's book was an interesting experience, but it also had its flaws.

Introduction



I began this extensive reading in anticipation of an upcoming trip to Spain. I must admit that this book has prepared me in a far more remarkable way than I had ever anticipated. Like Michener, I aspire to deeply immerse myself in the religious history of Catholic Spain. As a result of this reading, I will have a much deeper appreciation for its art, architecture, religion, people, and culture.



Although this is an outdated work, written during the Franco era, it still offers a great introduction to Spain. At least for me, it was well worth the effort of reading 939 pages of small font. The large size of the book is somewhat alleviated by the presence of many illustrations, many of which are helpful maps. However, Michener could and should have condensed this writing a great deal, as it contains a lot of rambling. Michener delves into almost every tangent he encounters, but from these digressions, we learn a valuable lesson about what it truly means to travel.



I suppose many people have chosen not to read this wonderful book because of its nearly thousand-page length in small font. In fact, I myself have avoided it for decades, as it patiently waited for me year after year on my unread bookshelf. I was finally prompted to read it only because of my upcoming trip to Spain.



To create this book, Michener显然merged collections of text relevant to the various regions of Spain he visited at different times. As a result, the finished work seems to lack the final synthesis we are accustomed to seeing in Michener's excellent historical novels. Instead, this work reads more like a travel guide, but the brilliance of Michener's descriptive prose is still evident throughout.



Michener helps us understand that traveling should be much more than just sightseeing. Truly, travel also needs to involve interactions with the local population and a willingness to explore inviting side roads. Michener's genius as a writer is demonstrated again and again by the skillful way he vividly describes such Spanish experiences. One thing about Michener is that if you read him a lot, he seems to become a friend, even if not a personal acquaintance. This is because Michener is a writer with whom a reader can quickly develop an affinity for travel, history, and the mystery of human existence.



Quick Historical Outline



By around 1500 BC, the indigenous Iberians were firmly established along the Spanish coasts. By 1300 BC, Celtic invaders from the north had begun to displace them. By 1120 BC, the Phoenicians were building lighthouses on prominent peninsulas. By 630 BC, the Greeks had arrived, and two centuries later, the Carthaginians.



The Second Punic War (218-201 AD) determined that Spain would come under the control of Rome, and Spain became as much a part of the Roman Empire as Italy. Roman settlements in Spain conferred Roman citizenship, and many Spaniards were significant to Rome, including three emperors: Trajan, Hadrian, and Theodosius. Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD) was a famous Roman from Spain (or Hispania as the Romans called it). Seneca is known for his philosophical works, tragic plays, prose, and essays, which are stoic in nature. Stoicism is a Hellenistic philosophy begun in Athens by Zeno in the 3rd century BC. Stoicism is a philosophy of personal ethics that involves accepting the moment as it presents itself, by not allowing oneself to be controlled by desire, pleasure, fear, or pain. Stoicism advocates using one's mind to understand and do one's part justly.



Around 453 AD, the Visigothic peoples came from northern Europe and drove out the Romans. In 711, the Muslim Moors began incursions into Spain, and by 835, they had expelled the Visigoths and established Islam as Spain's religion. Under the Romans, Visigoths, and Muslims, Portugal was an undifferentiated part of Spain. Spain remained an Islamic stronghold until 1492 when the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand & Isabella instituted the Spanish Inquisition and expelled Muslims, Jews, and Protestants. Interestingly, the dictator Franco would later use Moorish troops to assist him in seizing power during the Spanish civil war of 1936. Franco (1892-1975) then ruled Spain as an absolute dictator for 36 years.



The Great Error of the Expulsion



During the four centuries before 1492, Spain had shown itself to be hospitable to diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic groups. However, with astonishing speed, it reversed course and eradicated from Spanish soil all Jews, Muslims, Protestants, Illuminati, and Jesuits. Michener believes that Spain suffered severe cultural losses as a result of these expulsions, particularly in fields such as poetry, dancing, philosophy, architecture, and agriculture. Michener cites the collection and burning of Muslim, Jewish, and Protestant manuscripts as a major crime against history and scholarship. After the expulsions, lands that had once been productively used were left unworked or used only for grazing because the Spaniards held contempt for anyone who worked with their hands, especially farmers.



Spain was, at this time, essentially a theocracy. The domination of generic Catholicism had a sterilizing effect that perpetuated in Spain the kind of retardation it had inflicted across Europe during the Middle Ages. Before the expulsions, Spain was at the forefront of nations, but coinciding with the expulsions, a long decline began. Michener writes: “…the Inquisition so terrorized Spanish society that anyone with an inquiring mind was silenced … science and invention were impeded … the speculation which is necessary for progress and great works was impossible…philosophers were imprisoned and theologians burned”.



Not only were Jews rooted out and burned, but so were Protestants. Michener writes: “Particularly sad were the cases of shipwrecked English sailors in the middle years of the sixteenth century, for if they swam to Spanish soil they were in real danger of being burned. The Inquisition maintained that any Englishmen who was then a Protestant must have been born and baptized a Catholic and was ipso facto a heretic deserving death.”



Michener informs us that the Inquisition continued well into the 19th century, with the last public execution being in 1826, of a schoolteacher whose crime was praying publicly the phrase “Praise be to God” rather than “Ave Maria”. Michener also reports that more recently, a man he knew was arrested when he refused to rise and doff his cap as the Virgin passed by in a religious procession, and he escaped persecution only by claiming that his knee was damaged. Michener also tells of an incident in his contemporary time where a Protestant chaplain at an American military base was arrested simply for speaking at a picnic.



Of course, the Inquisition was also active in other parts of Europe. The number of witches executed in the 17th century in Germany has been estimated to be as high as a hundred thousand, a figure that is probably four times as great as the number of people burned by the Spanish Inquisition in all its history. The Bishop of Bamberg, during the period 1622-1633, had six hundred witches burned, and during the same period, the Bishop of Wurzburg had nine hundred.



The Inquisition quickly became an instrument for enforcing a pernicious theory regarding “purity of blood”, which meant that any family whose ancestors had been either Moorish or Jewish was considered contaminated. A family could have been practicing Christianity for three hundred years without blemish, but merely because they had a touch of Moorish or Jewish blood, they could not send their sons to university, work in certain jobs, hold office in a cathedral, or become officers in the army. Before a man could apply for any important job, he had to present a genealogy going back generations. The laws policing purity of blood continued well into the 19th century.



The University of Salamanca forbade the study of Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and other philosophers as being too dangerous to Catholic principles. University professors were imprisoned for referring to prohibited books, and at one point, it was forbidden to teach from any book published within the last forty years! By expelling the Moors, Jews, Illuminati, Jesuits, and Protestants, Spain shut out new ideas. Incidentally, Cervantes wrote the comic novel Don Quixote when the Inquisition was at its strongest, potentially alluding to the concept that society can be quite wrong and as an impetus toward social change.



Pathologically Catholic



Michener suggests that Spain exhibits an intensity of Catholicism that can be puzzling to a foreign visitor. Michener wonders how Spaniards can be both skeptics and staunch defenders of Catholicism. Michener cites the Catholic prohibition of divorce as the reason why young married women become fat, writing that it's “because her man can't be taken away from her”. Michener also cites this as the reason why 75% of Spanish gentlemen maintain mistresses.



Such hypocrisy is not unique to Spain, as many people around the world somehow consider themselves Catholic while engaging in a contradictory lifestyle. Perhaps the most glaring example I've ever encountered was during my visits to Haiti, where I discovered practitioners of Voodoo who did not hesitate to simultaneously identify themselves as Catholic. Michener writes that many Spaniards told him that: “Eighty percent of the men of Spain, as contrasted to the women, inwardly ridicule the involved ritual of the Church, but of those who scoff, eighty percent would take arms to fight anyone who tried to change the religion to something else.”



Michener suggests that one must understand that there are really two churches in Catholicism that are very much separated. First, there is the hierarchy, meaning the cardinals and bishops, who are creatures of the regime, appointed by the landed families, and who will be loyal to it until death. This first component of the church opposes all liberalism. In contrast, the other church consists of young clergy, Jesuits, worker families, and seminarians, who take religion seriously and want the church to sponsor social justice.



Lingering Paganism



Bull Sacrifice - During his visit to Spain, Michener remarks: “All around there is festivity in which Catholic Spain remembers the pagan rituals and combines the old religion and the new in fascinating juxtapositions.” One example Michener cites for this is a bullring in Merida that stands upon the very spot where in Roman times a great Mithraeum had stood. The Mithraeum is a mysterious and dark temple to the Persian god Mithras, who, according to mythology, killed the divine bull from which sprang all plants and animals upon which man exists. In the subterranean caverns of the Mithraeum, Roman soldiers huddled beneath a grating on which a bull was ceremoniously slaughtered, so that the hot blood of the animal could run down over them, supposedly conferring invincibility in battle. Today, on the very spot where these sacrifices occurred, other bulls of the same breed are sacrificed in the Spanish bullfights.



Bull Oppression – Michener explains that after the expulsion of the Muslims, the landed classes felt it beneath them to work the land, so they allowed the land to become vast interconnected grazing areas. They formed an association through which membership conferred profits from the animals grazing on these vast, interconnected land holdings. The law permitted such open grazing even when it damaged the cultivated plots of smallholding peasants. Thus, it was in the interest of this dominating minority to preserve the demand for bulls and meat products, even though using the land for grazing was much less productive than it would have been if cultivated. This practice served to perpetuate poverty among the lower classes in Spain and corrupt the general productivity of the entire country.



Confraternities & Mariology - In describing the Spanish confraternities (in Spanish cofradia), Michener reveals that the American Ku Klux Klan borrowed its costume from that which the members wear in religious processions during Holy Week. The different confraternities are associated with separate churches that meet throughout the year.



Michener vividly describes the religious parades conducted by the confraternities and how their floats are dominated by the images of the Virgin Mary and how the people along the streets praise and marvel at the images as they pass by, writing as follows:



“Of the forty-five floats presenting Virgins alone, two are preeminent and the subject of such veneration that even the most casual observer must reflect on the fact that Holy Week, which commemorates Christ’s passions and death, has become in Spain a celebration in which He plays a secondary role, with his mother becoming the central figure. The first is La Esperanza, the Virgin of Hope. She became famous as the patron Virgin of the bullfighter. The second is La Macarena, named after an Arabian princess.” -James Michener



Michener goes on to describe the penitents who follow the floats, marching barefoot over the stones with burdens of chain and cross. And each float was escorted by a company of soldiers with loaded rifles because in Spain the principal job of the army was to defend the Church, which has been its preoccupation since the time of its war against the Moors. Politicians could not hold office if they did not conform to the observances of the Church. Michener writes: “…Spanish religion may well (come to) focus exclusively on the Virgin, with Christ having receded to a background position…”



Economic Decline as a Spanish Characteristic



Hoarding & Disinvestment: Spain became one of the richest countries in Europe by acquiring the riches of the New World, but it allowed this influx of gold and silver to cause rampant inflation, which turned it into one of Europe's poorest countries. This sudden importation of raw wealth, which was not created by productive work, distorted the Spanish work ethic and ultimately bankrupted Spain.



Poor Reputation for Governance: It is a historical fact that Spanish cultures have difficulty governing compared to more successful French-English-American systems. Michener suggests that the Spanish problem arises because it inherited a system of fragmented holdings, dispersed among too many principalities, thus fostering economic separatism and anarchy. Such ineffective governments affect not only the Spanish homeland but also the Spanish republics in the Americas. For example, Michener refers to Mexico as a land that has been discovered, occupied, developed, and ruined by Spaniards.



Repression of Middle Class: Spanish history allowed the nobility to persist for too long before facing the limitations that overcame their counterparts in England, France, Italy, and Germany. One by one, the other European powers underwent revolutions that transferred power to a new and educated middle class that promoted industry and growth. In Spain, this did not happen, and the arrogant upper class dominated everything. They told the priests what they must preach, they terrorized schoolteachers, they put newspapermen out of business, they controlled the cabinet, the army, the Church hierarchy, and agriculture. They managed things so poorly, failing to industrialize and failing to seek the common good, only seeking their own advancement.



The Infections Spread to the New World: The poison of this indolent mentality spread to the Spanish countries in the New World, such as Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Venezuela, etc. The leaders of these third-world countries would gain political office and hold it for about five years, during which time they would steal every peso or bolivar they could and stash it in a numbered account in Switzerland. Ultimately, they would abandon the country to live a life of luxury in Europe, never understanding what “public service” means. This is the same kind of virus that infected the upper classes in the mother country, from which the spirituality of the Spanish New World originated. In Spain, the kings plundered the country, and the upper classes never learned what it truly means to govern, instead persisting in arrogance and incompetence. The great families remained aloof, arrogant, powerful, indifferent, and huddled together in the cities where the police and army could protect them.



The Spanish Gentlemen: After the expulsions, a contempt developed for anyone who worked with their hands, especially farmers. Working in agriculture was considered a disgrace for a person, from which a family could not cleanse itself, so inevitably, the land suffered. Spain became filled with paupers who maintained their status as gentlemen by refusing to work; even though they starved, they remained gentlemen. A man with one room and one suit, if he carried himself properly, could be just as much a gentleman as a man with a palace. As seen in the impoverished Don Quixote, there is no sense of embarrassment in addressing a duke, count, or marquis as an equal while feeling imminently superior to a recently enriched millionaire. More directly stated, the Spanish nation felt more compelled to pursue Mexican and Peruvian gold than to develop manufacturing, agriculture, or other industries; and once they squandered these unearned riches, they wallowed in decline.



The Myth of St. James



Two of the earliest disciples of Jesus were the brothers James and John, sons of the Galilee fisherman Zebedee and his wife Salome. Salome was the sister of the Virgin Mary, which means that her sons were cousins of Jesus. James reportedly visited Spain and converted some of the Iberians and was supposedly visited by the Virgin Mary in Zaragoza while she was still alive. In AD 29, the brothers were present at the Crucifixion, and in AD 44, James, having continued his energetic propagation of the faith, was beheaded by order of Herod Agrippa, becoming the first of the followers of Jesus to achieve martyrdom.



The legend is that after James was killed in the Holy Land, his body was mysteriously disinterred and found to have its head intact again. A mysterious stone ship, manned by knights, suddenly arrived at the port of Jaffa and took the body of James to the west coast of Spain, where it was buried in an ancient

Iberia is truly a massive tomb.

It is a unique blend, being part travel book, part history book, and part snapshot of the cultural impressions of Spain in the mid-60's.

If you are contemplating a trip to Spain and desire to know about its history up to the time of Franco, this book still serves as a good context. It was published 50 years ago, when Franco was on the verge of relinquishing power.

It is fascinating to obtain the perspective of an American writer from that era. However, I suspect that a great deal has changed in Spain since then, rendering the book somewhat dated.

The travel book aspect, where Michener delves into intimate details about a painting, sculpture, or building, is nothing like that of today's modern travel writers. It seems somewhat random and doesn't necessarily make for outstanding reading.

Nevertheless, it still offers valuable insights into the Spain of the past and can be a worthwhile read for those interested in the country's history and culture.

'Iberia' stands as an anomaly within Michener's extensive body of work. Unlike his fictional retellings of the history of places like Hawaii, Texas, and Centennial, 'Iberia' is an informal non-fiction account of Michener's travels from the early 1930s to 1966. He had a profound love for Spain and explored every nook and cranny of the country. This book delves into various aspects such as history, culture, religion, and, of course, the prominent topic of bullfighting.

My father, who also had a passion for Spain, read 'Iberia' when it was first published in the late 1960s. When he finally got the opportunity to travel to Spain, I can only imagine that he recalled a great deal of what he had read. Now, as I am preparing to embark on my first trip to Spain in just a few weeks, I have chosen this book to help me gain a better understanding of the Spanish people and their rich history. Admittedly, there are some elements in the book that are a bit dated, especially considering that the death of Franco occurred after the book was completed and Spain has since entered the EU and transformed into a modern nation. However, if one wishes to truly understand Spain's history and culture, 'Iberia' still serves as an excellent guide.

James Michener also reveals a great deal about himself in this book. He was insatiably curious, with an incredibly wide range of interests that encompassed music, poetry, art, people, and history. He was also highly proficient in speaking and reading Spanish. From his very first visit in the 1930s, when he arrived on a tramp steamer, to his numerous extended stays over the decades, he continuously sought to learn about and appreciate Spanish culture.
I managed to power through this book in six weeks, using a combination of Audible and reading the text. It is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Spain.

I truly adored this intimate read.

It gave the impression that James Michener was penning not only for the future readers but also for himself.

It serves as an introduction to Spain that is both lively and authentic, while simultaneously sharing the rich history and vibrant culture of the country.

The detailed descriptions and engaging narratives made me feel as if I was already there, experiencing Spain firsthand.

I can hardly contain my excitement for my upcoming trip in May.

I am eager to explore the places that Michener wrote about and see if they match the vivid images he painted in my mind.

This book has definitely whetted my appetite for all that Spain has to offer.

I am looking forward to immersing myself in the language, cuisine, and traditions of this beautiful country.

I have a feeling that my trip will be even more meaningful and memorable because of this wonderful read.

An amazingly rich account of Spain, it’s just WAY TOO LONG. The meandering chapters without clear breaks when suddenly switching topics made the narrative tough to follow. However, despite its flaws, I’m not sure that there’s another book out there to top this portrait of the country.

The author has managed to pack in an incredible amount of detail about Spain’s history, culture, people, and landscapes. From the ancient civilizations that once thrived on its soil to the modern-day cities and towns that dot the countryside, every aspect of Spain is explored.

But the length and lack of clear structure can be overwhelming at times. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of information and lose track of the overall narrative. Still, for those who are truly interested in Spain and are willing to put in the effort, this book is a treasure trove of knowledge.

In conclusion, while this book may not be perfect, it is an important and valuable contribution to the literature on Spain. It offers a unique and in-depth perspective on the country that is sure to fascinate and educate readers.

Almost 60 years after its publication, this book remains one of the best for those seeking a genuine understanding of 'Deep Spain'.

Certainly, there are aspects that may seem dated. However, this is outweighed by the numerous elements that are completely timeless and an integral part of the Spanish psyche.

I recently reread it while embarking on a 1,225km trek across Spain as research for my latest travel book. Doubtless, I will once again reach for the well-worn copy on my shelf before too long.

The book offers a unique perspective on Spain, delving into its history, culture, and people. It provides insights that are both profound and thought-provoking.

Despite the passage of time, its relevance endures, making it a must-read for anyone interested in Spain or travel in general.

Whether you are a seasoned traveler or simply curious about the world, this book is sure to captivate and inspire you.

I initially believed that this book would simply be Michener's account of his travels through Spain. However, to my surprise, more than half of it is dedicated to history, which I find truly dull. Especially the way it is incorporated into his travel narrative through selection makes it difficult for me to engage with the book.

But perhaps I should have anticipated this mixture of history and travel. After all, in all of his fictional books set in different locations, it is essentially a history of that place, starting from the creation of the land and progressing to the present day.

Maybe if I had a greater interest in history, I would have been able to appreciate this book more. But as it stands, I struggled to get through it and found myself constantly losing interest.

Despite this, I can still recognize Michener's talent for writing and his ability to bring a place to life through his words. It's just that this particular combination of history and travel didn't quite work for me.

I didn't actually finish reading the book. However, I read enough pages to have a clear understanding that this isn't my kind of book.

The story didn't seem to engage me from the very beginning. The writing style might not have been to my taste. Maybe it was too complex or perhaps it lacked the simplicity and charm that I usually look for in a book.

Also, the characters didn't seem to come alive for me. I couldn't really connect with them on an emotional level. Their actions and decisions didn't make much sense to me, which made it difficult for me to get invested in their story.

In conclusion, although I didn't finish the book, I have a strong feeling that it just wasn't meant for me. There are so many other books out there that I'm sure will capture my attention and imagination more effectively.