Portugal Books

"Rome produces its monkeys and wild goats And every type of wild beast, more even than India and Africa. And now that Leo has become their king, All the animals, even the very elephant, Must hold him in honour."

A verse of Pasquino heralds the arrival of the great elephant Hanno to Rome, where it is presented to Pope Leo X. And so begins Silvio Bedini's delightful story of the pope's elephant. Bedini, whose work has covered a range of topics in the past, began exploring the rumors of a Vatican rhinoceros and elephant, only to find them not only true, but part of a fantastic story of imperial representations of power, patronage, gift-giving, and ceremony.

Brought to Leo X 1514, Hanno the elephant was a symbol of Portuguese power and dominance in the far east, and particularly from India, where the elephant's journey began. Bedini details the long voyage from Lisbon to Porto Ecole, during which the elephant was anchored between the two masts of the boat. From there, the travel to Rome via dirt roads is complicated both by wear on the elephant's tender feet and the throngs of people who crowd the entourage, trying to get a look at the most spectacular gift. In Rome, the elephant is finally, and formally, handed over to the pope, and Bedini shows his remarkable descriptive skill in sketching out every aspect of the ceremony. Those interested in the rituals of such religious, nationalistic and political events (all bundled into one) will be satisfied with Bedini's work here. Once in Rome and rested, Hanno becomes a living symbol of the period, captured by poets, playwrights, and artists. Oddly, the elephant shared a small amount of fame with a rhinoceros, another gift from the Portuguese. The fate of this beast, however, is less well known, and while it appears in several commissioned paintings from the period, its fate remains unclear.

The book closes with the death of Leo X, and the changes which ensued, both religiously and culturally, after his passing. Bedini thoughtfully examines the influence of this pope and his large beast on the belles lettres of the period. Beautiful plates show the extent to which the elephant--as a symbol of the Church's strength, of the Pope's magnificence, and of the animal's own divine purpose--captivated people, and the reader is given a new perspective on the 16th century, simply by focusing on an elephant.

If you've even a passing interest in historiography - supplementing the historical record with artifacts and peripherally supporting documentary evidence to glean a substantial picture of the world represented by written history - you will find this book a treasure.

At times shocking, at others moving, often repellant and even more frequently laugh-out-loud audacious, it is always illuminating.

This is high scholarship, but only very rarely is it dry. Good for the gothic audience: never again will you dream of living in romantic 16th C Europe, not after the smells and sounds and horrific displays of human behavior brought to life by Bedini and the story of the elephant/s.

The Pope's Elephant by Silvio A. Bedini is a fun book although it does not quite deliver the promise of the subtitle on the cover. It is not really about the journey of an elephant from deep in India to the heart of Rome. It is really about the strange workings of Rome and the Papacy in the early 1500's and their dealings with other nations, such as Portugal from which the ill-fated elephant, Hanno, arrives. The author uses a great variety of sources for this journey, particulary interesting being the use made of contemporary artists to provide proof of events. This book could have used the Pope's elephant for a much wider glimpse of the world at this point in time, but the more narrow version presented here is fascinating and illuminating in its own right. An interesting footnote into history (and, truly, how many interesting footnotes does one run across).

Machado de Assis is a genius. Born from a very poor family, he learned languages during the Brazilian imperial period where lower classes were very limited to access education. He started with very typical romantic novels although with his own style. He married a well educated portuguese woman who introduced him more selected european literature. After 40 years old Machado wrote what we classified as classics. Machado's style was not a realistic naturalism writer. Machado is Machado. He created his own style helping literature to go ahead of his time. A genius.

This is one of the best books I've ever read! The story of the ascencion and fall of a man, his sanity and madness, make us think about our human condition. Machado de Assis is undobted the best Brazilian writer.

"Quincas Borba" is one of a series of fine novels by Brazilian author Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis. The author, who died in 1908, is one of the major figures of 19th century South American literature. "Quincas Borba" is a sort of companion volume to another of the author's novels, "The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas." While "Quincas Borba" does not, in my opinion, attain the level of literary inventiveness of its companion novel, it is still a fascinating, and ultimately moving, piece of fiction. It has been translated into a smooth English by Gregory Rabassa.

"Quincas Borba" tells the story of Rubiao, who inherits a fortune, as well as a pet dog, from the eccentric philosopher Quincas Borba. Curiously, the dog is also named Quincas Borba. The novel follows Rubiao as he attempts to find love and fulfillment in 19th century Brazil.

The novel contains many ironic comments on the craft of writing itself, and examines the political, sexual, and economic complexities of Rubiao's world. The author's writing is peppered with intriguing cultural allusions: Poe, Shakespeare's "Othello," Homer, Mozart, Kant, Dante's "Inferno," and more.

"Quincas Borba" is an effective mix of comedy and tragedy. Machado de Assis writes with both insight into and compassion for the human condition. Those interested in 19th century literature, Latin American studies, or the development of the novel should definitely read this book.

First published 1984, then with a few extra chapters. This was on publication essential reading and remains so. It combines a good account of hip Hop's formation and antecedents with a look at the contemporary scene..labels, artists and crews. It is particularly good for tracing themes within the culture and cross referencing them to earlier music. Well written, suitable for all ages with classic photos, every Hip Hop fan should own this.

"All music has a history, shameful or illustrious, but for a 14-year old chilling out in Playland, white nylon anorak with the hood pulled tight and maybe a pair of Nike kicks with the tongues pulled out, what matters in the mini-phones plugged into the Walkman (or one of its cheaper variants) is the post-NASA - Silicon Valley - Atari - TV Break Out - Taito - Sony - Roland - Linn - Oberheim - Lucas - Speilberg groove." That's David Toop on the "electro" music of the early '80s--just one of many subjects handled with real sensitivity and street smarts in _Rap Attack_, a classic text now in its third edition. A musician as well as a writer, Toop conveys the magnitude of hip hop's revolution in sound--combining the musique concrete of Edgar Varese with the urban frenzy of a Bronx social club at 2:00 a. m.--but also its verbal genius, a lineage extending from the griots of Northern Nigeria to "doin' the dozens" to Kool Keith. With a dry wit and the erudition of a walking pop-music encyclopedia, Toop tells the tale of the amazing homegrown phenomenon that by 1998 "had overtaken country music to become America's biggest-selling format."

This is a serious, thorough, warmly written book about a musical genre that until very recently was given short shrift by most music critics. Toop dived head-first into the subject and immersed himself in the history, culture and mythology of hip-hop. His enthusiasm is infectious. One of the best books about music I've read.

Rick Steves assumes his readers are intelligent and able to make decisions, but need some help with the details. I used the 1998 version of this guide for a trip to Madrid and Barcelona. The information about the pensions was perfect. We found a clean, reasonable place to stay in Madrid with no trouble whatsoever, a real godsend when you're jet-lagged and hauling luggage. The books's worth the price for that kind of information alone.

Rick Steves assumes his readers are intelligent and able to make decisions, but need some help with the details. I used the 1998 version of this guide for a trip to Madrid and Barcelona. The information about the pensions was perfect. We found a clean, reasonable place to stay in Madrid with no trouble whatsoever, a real godsend when you're jet-lagged and hauling luggage. The books's worth the price for that kind of information alone.

Passport, tickets, hiking shoes and Rick Steve's book-these are the things I never forget to pack for my vacation in Europe. Rick Steves' Spain & Portugal 2000 again makes it on my list of top travel books. Like all his books, they are more like travel diaries. We used his book extensively during our visit to Barcelona, Granada, Seville, Madrid and Lisbon. The hotels we stayed at were all based on the recommendations listed in the book and we were not disappointed! Generally we had the best luck with his recommended eateries, except some in Lisbon. It appears that these establishments already have been on the recommended list for many years have gotten complacent compared to other places we went to in Spain. The hand-drawn maps and description of various tourist sites came in quite handy. Drawing our attention to places that did not speak English helped and the short phrase guide at the end of the book was a good compliment. It is a great book if you want to go to the "most visited" places in Spain and Portugal. It does not have much information about places outside the touristic areas. The information on Spain was much more up to date compared to Portugal and overall it is a well-researched and clearly written book.

If you are looking for a great, informative guide to the ins and outs of the country of Portugal, this book is for you! It has awesome insider tips on where to stay, eat, climate, costs...all updated annually...it even includes phone numbers of places to stay and whether or not they speak English...provides emails and websites and so much more!
My only complaint is that I would have liked more photos!
Overall, an excellent guide!

Rick Steves does it again. Great recommendations. The only quibble (why not a 5) is that Rick is so selective that he does not include places, such as Tomar, that may be off the beaten path but really do deserve a mention, if not a strong encouragement to visit. If you buy this book, or even if you don't, look at his website where there are updates and a "chat room" that help you plan a visit.

What you need to know to go... Never go to a foreign country without Rick Steves, and this one, on the least touristy place in Europe, is up to his high standards.

This is edition number 12 in the Rough Guide to Portugal series. Believe me, Rough Guide has this country down to the square inch.

First, the country. Portugal was the most powerful country in the world in the 15th century, only to be eclipsed by Spain in the 16th, but that's not the point. The point is that after about a century of tremendous opulence, Portugal's fortune began to sink with its weak, superstitious monarchy. The Lisbon earthquake in the 18th century was the nail in the coffin, and by the 19th century, Portugal had become a European fringe state - a long forgotten backwater. So much the better for its truly remarkable preservation! Since Portugal essentially stopped in the 18th century, what you see today is essentially what was in place at that time. It's an absolute time warp. So many of Portugal's cities and towns are preserved in such pristine condition, it's impossible to list them all. UNESCO has recognized this fact by naming over 10 sites within the country to the ultimately prestigious World Heritage List. Want to see Renaissance Europe? Forget about expensive and absolutely overrun Italy. Portugal is the place. It has everything, culturally and geographically.

Now, the book. The typical Rough Guide format works well with Portugal. Rough Guides concentrate resources around historical and cultural contexts, arranged geographically by region and city. Listings are selective, not comprehensive. Rough Guide authors seek out the hotels and restaurants that they believe offer something unique to the location. In this way, this edition really shines. Few glossy photographs are here, but there are words aplenty. It's like carrying the national history museum in your hand.

Maps are simple and accurate. Contexts are concise enough to be practical, but comprehensive enough to be interesting. The literature section is especially good.

Rough Guides never let me down. This one from Portugal is very detailed, has many accomodation reviews, good for sightseeing scheduling, and alternative sites for tourism. The only thing I miss is a way to help me to organize trips between the different cities (from "somewhere" to "other where" is best by plane or by train, and so on).

This guide includes inexpensive to
moderate accommodation recommendations,
excellent maps, comments on public transportation,
and knowledgeable advice.

Rory Muir's "Salamanca 1812" is a detailed, even blow-by-blow description of the encounter in western Spain between Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese Army and Marmot's Imperial French Army, ending in a decisive battlefield victory for the Allies. After a brief synopsis of events in the Peninsular War leading up to the battle, Muir guides the reader through each phase of manuever by both sides. He provides special focus on the key attack by the Anglo-Portuguese forces that broke the French forces. Muir intermingles commentary on various points of scholarly controversy with the battlefield narrative. Muir's writing style is easy to follow, especially in the details of the encounters between units. The diagrams illustrating maneuver look stylized and could have been a little clearer. At book's end, he might have have devoted an additional couple of pages to his rather cursory summary of the mixed strategic results of the battle. This is a book meant for serious scholars and devoted fans of the Peninsular War. Readers with an interest in the operational level of war will find the commentary on Wellington's remarkable display of patience in waiting for his opportunity to fight to be very worthwhile. However, the average reader may find the mixture of narrative and commentary to be distracting, and the level of detail to be somewhat overwhelming. Muir is clearly a master of his topic and has produced a very worthwhile read.

Rory Muir's new title in the field of Napoleonic history, `Salamanca 1812', is another one of his brilliant efforts. After his previous two books, `Britain and the Defeat of Napoleon' (which won the best book of the year award of the International Napoleonic Society) and `Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of Napoleon' its good to see that he has returned with another great Napoleonic title.

This account, which covers one of the great battles of the Peninsular War, provides the reader with an excellent narrative of the events leading up to the battle of Salamanca in 1812, the battle itself and the aftermath. The author has taken a novel approach in this book by splitting each chapter (thirteen in all) into two sections. The main section of each chapter tells the story of the battle and events related to it. The author uses numerous first-hand accounts, from both sides of the fighting, to give the reader a feel for the fighting as experienced by the participants.

The second section of each chapter takes a more in-depth look at the numerous sources available on the battle in question, many well know and a few lesser-known authors as well. The rational behind this is the author's attempt to answer many of the controversies that have arisen over time in relation to the battle. He uses numerous sources to flesh out the questions and problems and offers answers based on a logical appreciation of the known facts.

This format (two sections per chapter) does not detract from your reading pleasure; in fact if you do not wish to read the `commentary section' you will not lose anything. If you wish to delve further into the conflict or try to find answers to certain questions then you can do so without fear that the narrative is going to get confusing.

The book is 322 pages in length with numerous maps which were of a decent standard and easy to follow. There are a number of Appendixes (5 in total) covering Allied and French strength and losses along with a mini tour guide of the battlefield as it is today. The book also has a number of black and white photographs; many take of the battlefield by the author.

Overall this is a decent account of an interesting and significant Peninsular War battle written by one of the leading authors on the subject of the Napoleonic Wars. I am sure that many Napoleonic buffs will enjoy this account.

Rory Muir provides a first-rate account of the battle of Salamanca. The format he employs is unique as well. A standard narrative of events is provided, and then a discussion of the sources used follows in each chatper. In this way the author shows us the thought process involved in evaluating primary and secondary works from this period. This process of histography greatly enhances the reader to understand what is involved in reconstructing events from the past. Even an event such as this, well known and rich with sources, still has many questions when subjected to a closer look.

The author provides an excellent break-down of events comprising the battle itself. We see how close the actual battle itself was in terms of whether and how it would take place. Wellington was patiently awaiting his opportunity, and Marmont finally provided it. Against a lesser quality opponet Marmont's generalship might well have prevailed, but against the Iron Duke he could not afford to make any mistakes.

The author provides a close-up look at the fighting itself, quoting numerous first-hand sources to provide a deeper understanding, but also showing the reader that many primary sources are not without their contradictions. These the author attempts to take apart in order for the reader to better understand the sequence of events, and how these were described by the primary sources. The work is greatly enhanced by mixing in lesser known French primary accounts with their better known English counterparts. We see that the British most often prevailed in their firefights not by a prolonged series of platoon vollies as many previous works on this subject have indicated. Instead the red-coats fired a solid volley and then quickly followed up with a loud cheer and a steady bayonet charge to disorder the French. We see at Salamanca that this tactic worked offensively as well. Also we see that Clusel's famous counter- attack could have done a lot more damage to the British if it had been pressed with more vigor. The description of Le Merchant's cavalry charge on the French left was certainly the decisive moment of the battle. Here Rory Muir provides a detailed break-down of events showing the reader how this charge unfolded from beginning to end. One emerges with a greater understanding of how infantry and cavalry fought against each other in this period.

I note that Mr. Muir is an Aussie which seems interesting that he would have such a passion for events so far removed from his homeland. Here he has shown us how battles should be reconstructed in order to emerge with a greater understanding of both the sources used and the period of warfare which they describe. As a devotee of the Peninsular War, and having visited the battlefied of Salamanca itself recently, I cannot recommed this book highly enough for the serious student of Napoleanic Warfare.

I've read other books of Urrea, both nonfiction, but his novels are always very entertaining so I did not hesitate to buy this book when I saw it. Most of Urrea's stories are spiritual and lead you into making out what the story means. One of his stories about the Tijuna dompes can be found in a previous work. Other then that the other stories were very well written and Urrea has learned to twist one's emotions while they are absorbed in his writing. I am a big fan of Urrea and would recommend to anybody to read this book and also his previous works.

Three knockout pieces ("First Light," "Bid Farewell to Her Many Horses," & "A Day in the Life") here show Urrea at his best. He writes from a personal sense of mission, and his work reveals a worldview that is acutely aware of the shortcomings of the human race but ultimately optimistic. At his best he can't write a bad sentence; his images and the words he chooses have a visceral impact. Urrea is also the most successful Latino-gringo hybrid ("latingo"?) I know; no one I've read is close to him in his ability to depict both sides of how Mexicans and North Americans see each other (his description of how the workers living at the Tijuana garbage dump perceive the visiting American missionary women is priceless). Also worth reading are The Devil's Highway and The Hummingbird's Daughter.

If you believe Luis Urrea to be only a writer of nonfiction, you owe yourself a few nights with this book. A diverse collection of stories about real people, told with humor, feeling, and imagination, this book comes from the tender heart of a fine writer.

Pepe Carvalho is one of the most complex characters that you will find in any collection of stories. He most famous for his epicurean, gastronomic and detective skills; but he is politically unfaithful and socially strange. He has a relationship with a 'call-girl' for eight years and seems to revel in having sex with woman in their late teens and early twenties (he's over forty and over weight). His personality, which is nothing to write home about, seems to be an aphrodisiac to young spanish woman experiencing a new 'freedom' in Spain following Franco's death.

From reading Vazquez Montalban (VM) you would think that in the 1980s all anyone in Spain talked about was politics of the Left, and that the Right had given up having any control with Franco dead. But people talk politics like they live in Revolutionary France and expect that the Reds will be taking over any day.

From the point of view of the twenty-first century, and a Spain that is now part of the upper elite of the European Union, the books have not worn well sociologically. The characters, both rich and poor, seem to have all the depth of a graphic novel but none of the adventure. VM is able to make his points about the changes to post-Franco in an almost naive way, knowing what we know now. I guess that politics never wear well. But the stories themselves are involving.

Highly recommended hard-boiled detective novel that looks at the cultural malaise of Spain in general and Barcelona in particular coming out of thirty years of Fascist dictatorship. Every character in this book has a serious political past and agenda, and they recite their political evolution and handily give the details of which party they recently voted for and why in the same fashion that Law & Order interviewees cynically give the details of their professional pitfalls. The hero Pepe Carvalho is so wacked out he burns books (but why is the question,) and he seems to be an overweight balding alcoholic with gourmand tendencies, but he's still a hit with the ladies. And the story is excellently written, and at once amusing and sad.

Once again Montalban hypnotizes us with his great story-telling ability, his poetry, his stunning metaphores and unforgettable characters. Detective literature never aimed this high. Winner of many prestigious awards including "The Raymond Chandler Award", Southern Seas introduces us to the figure of Pepe Carvalho, detective, gourmet, wine-expert, philosopher, lover, former member of the Communist Party and the CIA. The setting is Barcelona, Spain, in the post-Franco era. Images of rare beauty and impressive power alternate in this atypical "who done it?" story. Montalban succeeds in elevating the genre to a higher level and, perhaps, creates a genre on its own. More Montalban, please!

This book treats the subject with an erudition and a level of detail proper of a scholar, yet in such an agile and balanced way that it doesn't bore a layman.
As well as factual data, a few conclusions are carefully drawn, with archaeological evidence and illustrations provided in the exact measure to support them.
A book to own and consult often by anyone remotely interested in the period.

This book provides an excellent chronicle of the actual engagement between the English and Spanish fleets. All the details of war (like the number of ships, men, even the quality of food carried on board) are here.
The book does provide an account of the geopolitical events sorrounding battle, but I have the impression that the authors were more concerned with describing the battle itself. For a more detailed picture of the diplomatic and political causes and consequences of the Armada, I would refer you to yet another book by Geoffrey Parker: "The Grand Stategy of Philip II").

Colin Martin (underwater archaeologist) and Geoffrey Parker's (historian) The Spanish Armada is an impressive and groundbreaking piece of multi-disciplinary scholarship. The causes and the eventual result of the Armada have never been that open to interpretation but the reasons for the extraordinary failure have been. It is in this field that Colin Martin's excavations contribute vital information.

Philip II's plan for the Armada was as follows: the fleet must sail up English Channel and rendezvous in the Straits of Dover with the Spanish 'Army of Flanders' under the command of Parma (Philip II's cousin). Then, the fleet would escort a substantial part of the army on special boats to Kent. From here, then it was suppose to capture the weak English forces (an entire chapter deals with the deficiencies of the English army and Coastal Defenses and potentially what would happen if the army had landed) and capture London with the Armada sailing along side up the Thames. Philip planned to restore the country to Catholicism, set up some sort of puppet ruler, and have the pope pay for a chunk of the extreme cost. His motives were primarily religious (sent by God to remove heretics) but also he wanted to prevent English aid from helping the Dutch independence movement that was busy fighting the Spanish, and secure newly captured Portuguese empire and its sprawled possessions from pretenders to the Portuguese throne (supported by the English) and legal pirates (Drake and others supported by the Queen).

The most fascinating part of the book by far is not the political build up (sadly, slightly brief in this text) not the reasons for launching, but the reasons for its spectacular failure. The authors propose that the Spanish tactics, that concentrated on grappling and boarding, had not prepared the soldiers for reloading their unwieldy guns as fast as the English since they expected to fire only once. Secondly, the English had professional sailors who did nothing else but fire cannons. Thirdly, the communication in this period was dismal and although Parma had started to prepare his army it was unable to link with Medina Sidonia and his Armada because he thought the fleet would arrive much later. An entire chapter looks at all the causes of the failure (many more than the ones I have listed above). Most of the blame seems to lie with Philip since the individual commanders did their utmost. He relied on the virtually impossible link up between fleet and army to achieve victory which is at once the weakest and most important part of the entire plan.

This books analyzes and dismisses commonly held myths and theories, delves into the fleets with great yet understandable detail, looks at the treatment disparity between the English and Spanish sailors after the war (Elizabeth treated hers VERY poorly in comparison to Philip), and provides multiple helpful images and diagrams. My only important qualm was the fact that the preparation of the Armada itself, overlooked by Medina Sidonia, was only given a cursory look. This book is definitely worthwhile to the scholar and casual historian alike who wants a good look at this fascinating time period.