Iberia (book)
Encyclopedia
Iberia, by James A. Michener (original title: Iberia: Spanish Travels and Reflections), is a detailed and illustrated exploration of Spain
as it was during the mid 1960s. The author takes a measured, literary view on such subjects as the Moorish occupation
, Islam
, Catholicism
, Francisco Franco
and other controversial subjects. However, his feeling are often far from neutral, as in his comments on Franco (p. 836, at the end of his chapter on Teruel
:
"Why should I allow Franco to deprive me of a land which is almost as much mine as his?"
Michener shows to be very prescient, as in his talk of national cycles of rebirth (p. 837): "... And one of these days, (change) will be true even of Russia, and we had better be prepared to admit it .... though (in the United States) we fight against it and blind our eye and conscience to the fact".
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
as it was during the mid 1960s. The author takes a measured, literary view on such subjects as the Moorish occupation
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
, Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
and other controversial subjects. However, his feeling are often far from neutral, as in his comments on Franco (p. 836, at the end of his chapter on Teruel
Teruel
Teruel is a town in Aragon, eastern Spain, and the capital of Teruel Province. It has a population of 34,240 in 2006 making it one of the least populated provincial capitals in the country...
:
"Why should I allow Franco to deprive me of a land which is almost as much mine as his?"
Michener shows to be very prescient, as in his talk of national cycles of rebirth (p. 837): "... And one of these days, (change) will be true even of Russia, and we had better be prepared to admit it .... though (in the United States) we fight against it and blind our eye and conscience to the fact".