Portugal Books

Darwin Porter presents us with yet another excellent and usable title in the Frommer's series. We have found it to be an excellent vacation planning tool in our trip to Spain. With details ranging from where to stay for less money with the most value, to places to go eat/visit and things to avoid too, the book has something for everyone with Spain in their travel plans. We have used Frommer's guides for 5 different places so far, and not one of them has dissapointed us. This one was no exception. Highly recommended.

Although generally much more fond of the Rough Guide series, I found Frommer's Spain to be a pleasant surprise. This guidebook is a solid, well-written piece of work.

Perhaps the best feature of this guide lies in it's exactitude. Frommer's seems to go to great length to get their times right, and by telling exactly what you'll be paying for a typical meal somewhere, they have eliminated the guesswork that goes with reading "prices in the $10 to $30 range". Although Europe should be an adventure, nobody likes being caught short. Frommer's is all about making sure that doesn't happen.

Culturally competent, Frommer's seems to care very much about WHY places are important. Although I do not agree with all their inclusions and exclusions, this guidebook will, for the most part, steer you in the right direction to see the highlights of Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, Granada, and many other larger cities.

All in all, although a bit more spotty than it should be about Spain outside of Her larger cities, Frommer's is a good buy for a decent overview of Spain and a GREAT BUY if you aren't straying too far afield from the major cities.

After reading this book, one can learn what a British traveller thought about Spain. Furthermore, and despite some mistakes in the use of the Spanish language, Ford proves to have been a really learned gentleman.
This book is going to be very helpful for someone interested--like myself--in knowing a foreign opinion about Spain.

Powerful observations written about the Spanish people, culture, government, it the time of the 1840s, Richard Ford has uncanny ability to observe, understand, analyze, and then put down his observations with wonderful prose, sharp wit, great philosophy, and an obvious love of Spain and things Spanish.
As an interesting aside, written at a time when England is very powerful, America young, France despised (Napoleon having been beaten by the British at Waterloo), the writing gives an insight into British culture as they saw themselves at that time.
If you love Spain, if you love truly superb travel writing, it is worth working through the obscure references in some passages to be amazed at the truly brilliant writing of Richard Ford. Insights into the Spanish that still hold true today, and universal insights into travel as an art that will always be true, page after page of great reading. I liked it.

Not difficult to read, provides a look at many aspects of life in the Colonies and Iberia. Useful (especially for those who don't speak Spanish) references and maps in the back. I didn't give it five stars, however, because I think it was a bit choppy in the writing, jumping from place to place. I also think--even though I could be totally off the wall on this one--that the authors tried too hard to hide their bias for one of the women. I'm not much of a social historian, I'm much more of a structuralist, so I do recognize my own bias while reading this.

Two worlds collide from across the Atlantic Ocean when a well-respected man is charged with the dishonorable crime of bigamy. The defendant, Francisco Noguerol de Ullua, is a true man of his time striving from humble beginnings to shake off the weight of his birth and claim glory in the Americas. His crime is the consequence of unfortunate circumstances of miscommunication, strained familiar relationships, and the resurrection of a dead wife. The Cooks chronicle these true events providing a peek into 16th century Spanish life and culture in the New World with commentary that is helpful and revealing. This book is crafted in a light that truly makes the events of 400 years ago come to life-an excellent choice for students of Latin American history, legal history, or social history. Maps, glossary, and a chronicle of events included.

As the previous reviewer from Portugal noted, humanity sometimes fails to acknowledge people who do the right thing. Sousa Mendes was just such a man. He was a Portuguese Council in southern France at the time of the German invasion. Jews from the low countries and France fled south trying to get to the neutral countries of Spain and Portugal. These countries sealed their borders in most cases, so one had to have a visa to get across the border. Sousa Mendes violated his country's rule aginst these stateless persons, and literally issued thousands of visas so that these Jews and other opponents of the Nazis could escape. In the process, he destroyed his career and eventually died in poverty. He did do the proper thing where most others abided their country's rules.
This was an inspirational read. Fralon details the life of Sousa Mendes and Portugal's role in both World Wars. He also details a little of the fascist rule of Salzaar. Unfortunately there were no happy endings with Sousa Mendes. The Portuguese government even balked at honoring him, and was forced by outside pressure to recognize what he did in the nineties.

It is regratable that great men are rarely aknowledge as so in life. Aristides de Sousa Mendes was no exception, but his acts were expeptional. This book was long due. It's finally here, it's very well written, a just tribute to a men of honour, and I thank the author for it.

This is one of those books that are worth taking a few hours to read even though they leave a lot of questions unanswered. The author has pulled together the leading theories that are out there about Goya's relationship with the Duchess of Alba, and while she hasn't made any shocking new discoveries, readers now have enough material to come to their own conclusions. Some facets of life in Goya's Spain I think the author does an especially good job of shedding light on, such as the dominant role of women and the submissiveness of their lovers (and of men in general) in aristocratic circles in eighteenth-century Spain. Her painting of morality at the Spanish court as Goya knew it is also eye-opening.

What I don't like about this book, however, is the amount of speculation in it, which seems to me, at least, to be a little reckless. I understand that it's very tempting to say that the Duchess of Alba (like majas, witches, and madmen) is a recurring theme in Goya's work, but Waldmann (or the commentators she is summarizing) seems to want to say that every dark-haired woman that Goya ever came up with was the Duchess of Alba. It's fun to speculate that Goya was obsessed with her, but face it -- we really can't prove anything. A lot of people have wondered whether or not the Duchess was the model for "The Nude Maja" and "The Clothed Maja". Waldmann goes so far as to suggest that the Duchess of Alba commissioned the paintings herself. This is a fascinating idea, but it's one example of the kind of cavalier statements the author is willing to make--cavalier because she doesn't offer one shred of evidence to support the idea that the Duchess ordered the paintings.

An interesting and useful study, but leave room for forming your own opinions.

This book is really very interesting. The angle the author takes on Goya's works is refreshing as the focus these days tends to be his etchings of war scenes. The text is well written and the paintings are gorgeous. Anyone interested in the story of a painter living in a turbulent time, a man tangled up in all sorts of intrigues, as well as an artist without compare would love this book!

These books definitely provide readers with a good background to Portuguese history. I read both books with a specific interest in 2 areas of Portuguese history: the establishment of Portugal's overseas empire, and Portugal's experience under the government of Antonio Salazar. Professor Marques provides a thorough discussion of both topics, along with other key eras of the nation's history. He uses a lot of statistics in many areas of the books, to the point where they take away from an otherwise interesting narrative. The books are a little dated, as they were written in 1973, and so many pivotal changes have taken place within Portugal since then. Overall, I would recommend this book as a way to get a basic knowledge of Portuguese history.

A.H. de Oliveira Marques is one of the brightest historians in Portugal, studyind both medieval and contemporary subjects. As for such he was able to create this masterpiece which combines in a very short narrative all of the most important facts and structures of the history of Portugal. This is the first volume of the work, covering a period since the romanisation to the fifteenth century. If you are looking to know more about portugal be sure to have for it was originally made for foreign students.

Sir Charles Oman's comprehensive seven volume history of the Peninsular War is the yardstick by which any other history of this theatre must be measured. However, this eighth volume is only for the hard core. If it happened, it is in one of these volumes.

John Hall has written perhaps the most complete record of casualties of British and Allied Officers caused by actions in the Iberian Peninsula during the "period". His sources are impeccably presented and must be of great value to military students of the war in that theatre. Being given permission to attach this work to the definitive overall history by Charles Oman is sufficient acceptance in itself to guarantee its place on the shelves of the most august military libraries, however, it must be said that a similar work coming from the "enemy" of the time, "Listes des officers tues et blesses pendant les Guerres de l'Empire" by M Martinien, was in continuous use by Sir Charles throughout his own mammoth compilation, and , although often remarked upon by that author as being "invaluable" was never elevated beyond that rather minor appellation. That criticism apart this work has such a wealth of hitherto "hard to find" information, so easily made accessible, that it would be churlish to deny the author his laurels. The collective history of the war in the Peninsula then has just made a modest leap foward through this publication.

Provided me with the help I needed in order to understand some of the archaic language used during that period.

I have played Poncia in this play and I really enjoyed it. We only did a short part out of it but I wanted to do more. I recommend reading this book but if you can perform it!

If you're planning on spending just a few days in Munich, then this compact little guide will be indispensible in locating the famous beerhalls and tourist sights. The maps are more than adequate and the walking descriptions to each locale are precise and accurate. There is also corresponding material on how to use the U-Bahn in the city and which station to take for each particular site. There is a separate chapter on the beerhalls of the city with a brief ranking system for the nosiest places, the friendliest, the cheapest beer, etc.

If you're planning a lengthy sojourn in Munich or if you already know the city well, then this book would not be as helpful. It is solely intended for the casual tourist and there is little, if any, information on the intriguing environs of Munich, including Bogenhausen, Haidhausen and areas of Schwabing. Many of the best sites are neglected because most tourists don't want to bother or simply don't have the time to stick around. Still, this is a thrifty guide you can stick in your pocket and consult when you need to find a restaurant, beer haunt or hotel. In short, if you're a first timer to Munich, enjoy the greatest city in Europe and be sure to tuck away Latja's guide.

I love my Insight Guide to Germany (we use everywhere we travel here in Germany). In fact, no one will let me leave home without it! As a result, I purchased the Pocket Guide to Munich for this summer's round of weekend trips. Very helpful and informative. I appreciate the effort made to include historical points and the wonderful photos, along with sample agendas.

We took our first trip to Tenerife in December 2002 and took this book with us. We read the historical information and found that it really helped us to understand Canarian culture and traditions. The sections on cuisine were also quite helpful, as Canarians have a cuisine of their own. Conejo Salmorejo is a local dish that you must try (or Pollo for those who fear rabbit) as well as chilled red wine - Yummy!

Read carefully and plan on following the advice in the book. It won't lead you astray!

Informative pocket guide giving history, culture and climate. Sums up 8 different areas of the island listing their highlights. Points of interest can easily be located on the maps provided. Has information on transportation, services and some accommodations. Color-coded tabs allow easy referencing of topics and routes. Great photos. A good source of information and a "must have" while travelling in Tenerife.