IBERIAN BOOK SERVICES

Author: Guy Hunter-Watts ISBN:  9788489954922 Format: PB Extent: 352 pp. Price: 19,99€ Publication: March 2012 Publisher: Santana Books

There are few places in Europe with such spectacular and diverse mountain terrain as Andalucía and this new edition of “Walking in Andalucía”, first published in 2000 and heartily acclaimed in the international press, introduces the reader to the best of its Natural parks, their most interesting villages and their most beautiful walks. Features of the book include 36 walking routes in six parks; detailed route notes with times, distances, water points and gradings; and Spanish Geographical Institute maps and GPS references for all walks. Now in extra durable format “Walking in Andalucía”, with this seventh edition, is set to maintain its pre-eminence as the trusted companion for growing numbers of walkers visiting or living in Spain.

Author: William Washabaugh ISBN: 978–4094-3484-9 Format: HB Extent: 168 pp. Price: £50 Publication: April 2012 Publisher: Ashgate

This book explores the efforts of the current government in southern Spain to establish flamenco music as a significant patrimonial symbol and marker of cultural identity. Further, it aims to demonstrate that these Andalusian efforts form part of the ambitious project of rethinking the nation state of Spain, and reconsidering the nature of national identity.

The author documents the development of flamenco’s musical style from 1880 t0 1980, demonstrating how the now conventional characterization of the flamenco style was mediated by krausist, modernist and journalist institutions.At the same time he shows how two recent institutional forces, audio recording and cinema, promote a concept of musical style that sharply contrasts with the conventional notion. Flamenco Nation makes a strong case for advancing the Spanish experiment in nation-building, but also for rethinking nationalism and cultural identity on a global scale.

Author: Marvine Howe ISBN: 978-1-84904-161-4 Format: PB Extent: 240 pp. Price: £18,99 Publication: December 2011 Publisher: Hurst & Company

Iberia is a special place of colliding myths over its Islamic past and the Christian reconquista, the Inquisition and massive expulsion of Muslims and Jews some five centuries ago. Long a land of emigrants and explorers, it has now become home to Europe’s latest, rapidly growing Muslim communities. Al-Andalus Rediscovered focuses on Iberia’s new Muslims, and their lives in a largely Roman Catholic region. Also featured are the Spanish and Portuguese officials, academics, NGOs and ordinary citizens who are trying to find better ways to integrate Muslims and other immigrants, despite domestic and European pressures for tougher counter-measures.

This book seeks to answer the basic questions: whether an Iberian model of a humane immigration policy is possible in ‘fortress’ Europe and whether the partisans of the Andalusian spirit of tolerance and diversity can prevail at this time of economic hardship and heightened radicalism in both the Islamic World and the West.