Spain: The Trials and Triumphs of a Modern European Country

Spain's transition to democracy after Franco's long dictatorship was widely hailed as a success, ushering in three decades of unprecedented progress and prosperity. 

Michael Reid overturns the stereotypical view of Spain as a country haunted by its Francoist past. From Catalan separatism and the indignados movement to the Spanish economy's over dependence on tourism and small business, Spain's challenges can often seem unique.

But Reid is careful to emphasise the many pressures it faces in common with its European neighbours, such as austerity, populism, and increasing polarisation. The result is a penetrating yet rounded portrait of a vibrant country, one that is more often visited than understood.