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Some historical reading before my camino

Babyboomergirl

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Frances 2017
Primitivo 2018
Finisterre/Muxía 2018
Norte 2019
Hello history enthusiasts,
I have just discovered these very old books on Spain ( published c1900 )in my father in law’s collection.
I’m very excited to read them before my planned pilgrimage from Seville next year.
It seems like “a sign” that the Camino is definitely calling …
 

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Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Fascinating. Show us some highlights.
 
Peregrinopaul said:
Fascinating. Show us some highlights.
Click to expand...
What a wonderful discovery and treasure this must be for @Babyboomergirl ! Holding and perusing such old and beautiful books is not the same as reading or looking at them online but for those of us who don't shy away from it : All three books have been digitised. Google found one copy in the digital library of the Cervantes Institute and the other two in the Gutenberg project.

Spanish Pictures drawn with Pen and Pencil​
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Medieval Towns, The Story of Seville, by Walter M. Gallichan​

The Story of Seville by Walter M. Gallichan

Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by volunteers.
www.gutenberg.org
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Toledo, by Hannah Lynch (part of the Medieval Towns series although different cover page)​

Toledo, the Story of an Old Spanish Capital by Hannah Lynch

Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by volunteers.
www.gutenberg.org
​
PS: Edited following @Babyboomergirl 's confirmation concerning author of third book in post #5
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​
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Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
 
Camino Inglés Walking Holiday - UK
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Babyboomergirl said:
View attachment 133022
Click to expand...
Nice, but most that I have read so far appears to be old fashioned Presbyterian bigotry. The author nails his colours firmly to the mast with this:
A careful examination of the condition of Spanish society left a strong conviction on the mind of the writer that the only hope for the country lies in the Gospel.
Click to expand...
and he is quite clearly talking about conversion to Presbyterianism. The author is most scathing about the ills of 'Papism' that he asserted had been inflicted on Spain by the Inquisition.

I suppose that the book's publication by The Religious Tract Society, a Presbyterian publishing house in London, should make this no surprise.

Some of the themes would today be seen as appalling arrogance - the superiority of the civilized English and French over the 'rude denizens' of southern France and Spain, applauding 'advances' that would dispossess these people from their lands, and so on.

The little that I have read so far seems to presage some call for Presbytarian missionary endeavour to 'save' the degenerate Spanish and instil in them some Protestant work ethic the author thinks they lack. If, indeed, that was a purpose for its publication, I wonder how successful that might have been.
 
I have not yet read any content of the books but thought they were interesting as historical publications and a reflection of thoughts ( of some ) at the time.
As I casually flipped open the Spanish Pictures book it opened at the page referencing Santiago de Compostela which given my yearning to walk there again seemed serendipitous.

The other Mediaevel Towns books seem to be travel guides from c1900 so I will endeavour to read about Seville. The Seville guide has many black and white photographs from 1905 glued inside which are very interesting and might encourage me to take then and now photos next year.
 
Camino Inglés Walking Holiday - UK
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
You have some treasures there, enjoy and learn what will jump out for you.
 
Another book discovery !
There is of course a chapter on St James.
 
Babyboomergirl said:
Another book discovery ! There is of course a chapter on St James.View attachment 133776View attachment 133777View attachment 133778
Click to expand...

Oh, this is a wonderful book, I love it ! It was published by the "Shell Transport and Trading Company Ltd" in 1957 to "celebrate their 60th year of existence", which is of course the company that is globally known today as a multinational oil and gas company. They commissioned eight experts in their fields for the eight studies in the book.
 
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