Fulfilling the need for English-source material on contemporary Spain, this book supplies readers with an in-depth, interdisciplinary guide to the country of Spain and its intricate, diverse culture.
Far from a usual reference book, Modern Spain takes the reader through the country’s history, economy, and politics as well as topics that address Spain’s popular culture, such as food, sports, and sexuality. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of its content, this book differs from the average typical English manuals that very rarely cover in depth the whole array of interesting issues that define Spain in the 21st century. The vast amount of information makes this book the perfect companion for any reader wishing to learn more about Spain.
Packed with current facts and statistics, this book offers an unbiased view of a modern country, making it an ideal source for undergraduate students and scholars.
Features
- Serves as a general reference guide to Spain that presents historical information as well as details about everyday life in modern-day Spain
- Covers a huge variety of topics ranging from sports and literature to gastronomy and geography
- Addresses virtually every issue and concern related to 21st-century Spain
- Provides the most up-to-date facts in a fair, unprejudiced manner
- Connects relevant aspects of Spain with those of other countries, giving readers perspective into the obvious differences and subtle nuances between unfamiliar cultures
Enrique Ávila López, PhD, is Cross-Appointed Associate Professor in the Departments of Humanities and General Education at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada. He received his master's degree in Latin American studies from the University of Liverpool and then completed his doctorate in contemporary Spanish Peninsular women's literature at Durham University in the United Kingdom. His published works include more than a dozen peer-reviewed articles in specialized international journals, book chapters, encyclopedia entries, and conference proceedings. His first book was a seminal work on the literature of Rosa Regas, which received the Victoria Urbano Critical Award by the North American Hispanic Feminist Association AILCFH in 2007.
Reviews
"This will, as its series title, Understanding Modern Nations, implies, help readers understand modern Spain, its society, and its roots broadly and in many particulars."—Booklist, February 22, 2016
"Modern Spain offers a fine, well-organized, easy-to-read introduction to Spanish history and culture. . . . A convenient sourcebook for beginning researchers and travelers alike. Summing Up: Recommended. High school, community college, and beginning undergraduate students."—Choice, November 1, 2016
"Modern Spain serves as a good introduction to Spanish history and culture and helpfully givesreferences for further reading. The scope is broad but topics are treated thoroughly and with respect by the author and presented in as much detail as could be allowed in an overview of the entire country. I would recommend it for college and university libraries as well as public libraries as reference material."—Reference Reviews, January 13, 2017
Understanding Modern Nations
The Understanding Modern Nations series profiles individual nations that are of interest to high school students and undergraduates, focusing on countries that are often studied in school as well as countries that have made major headlines in recent years.
With coverage of topics such as geography, history, politics and government, economy, society, culture, social media, pop culture, and personal accounts of daily life, these volumes serve as ideal resources for students of geography, social studies, anthropology, political science, and more. Additional topics examine religion, social classes and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, education, language, etiquette, literature and drama, art and architecture, music and dance, food, and leisure and sport.
General overviews of each topic provide students with a basic foundation on the subject, and entries pertaining to the topic—such as biographies of significant people in the field, iconic events, and key ideas—follow each overview. Sidebars and photos, facts and figures that are integral to better understanding the countries, a glossary of key terms, and a holidays chart round out the coverage in each of these accessible, engaging volumes.
