Spanish Quest

Fülszöveg

Ray Alan embarked on a dual quest: a
search for a man and a search for a country.
The man was his father; the country, Spain.
His father disappeared when Alan was an
infant. Alan knew only that he was Spanish,
that he might still be alive in Spain, and
that, if alive, he must be found. Spanish
Quest is the record of an inquiry that be-
came an exploration. It is a lively and evoca-
tive portrayal of the Spain of the guidebooks
and the Spain of the history books; but it is
also a fervid quest for the "inner Spain,"
revealing the fascinating perspective of a
man who is able, at the same time, to com-
bine the analytical objectivity of a foreigner
with the insight of an intimate.
In describing the familiar places and
sights, Alan manifests a tremendous sense
of the deeper significance of tradition in
Spain today and an intense desire to probe
beneath the surface. Many churches are
beautiful—but what does religion mean to
the average Spaniard? Some bullfights... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Ray Alan embarked on a dual quest: a
search for a man and a search for a country.
The man was his father; the country, Spain.
His father disappeared when Alan was an
infant. Alan knew only that he was Spanish,
that he might still be alive in Spain, and
that, if alive, he must be found. Spanish
Quest is the record of an inquiry that be-
came an exploration. It is a lively and evoca-
tive portrayal of the Spain of the guidebooks
and the Spain of the history books; but it is
also a fervid quest for the "inner Spain,"
revealing the fascinating perspective of a
man who is able, at the same time, to com-
bine the analytical objectivity of a foreigner
with the insight of an intimate.
In describing the familiar places and
sights, Alan manifests a tremendous sense
of the deeper significance of tradition in
Spain today and an intense desire to probe
beneath the surface. Many churches are
beautiful—but what does religion mean to
the average Spaniard? Some bullfights are
dramatic—but who watches them and why?
The author seeks Spain on every level—
in town and village, in monastery and fiesta,
in sex, art, and politics. He begins his search
in Toulouse, the refuge of more than 140,000
Spanish Republicans. And his quest carries
him over the Pyrenees, to Gerona, the Costa
(Continued on back flap)
(Continued from front flap)
Brava, Barcelona, Valencia, Aragon, the
Basque Country, Avila, Madrid—to the very
heart and mind of a nation that, torn by a
history of regional, religious, and political
strife, has rarely managed to be at peace with
itself.
Throughout his travels, the author re-
mains in close contact with Spanish men and
women, on whom he must rely to discover
the identity of his father as well as a less
tangible national identity. His delightful
anecdotal flair, enhanced by both wit and
compassion, unveils yet another Spam—a
Spain reflected in the words of its people.
RAY ALAN writes regularly for The
Economist (London). His articles on Span-
ish, French, Mediterranean and Near East-
ern affairs have appeared in the United
States in Commentary, The New Leader, The
New Republic, The Reporter, and other
journals, and have been translated into a
dozen languages. Vissza