Madrid: The History

I have not read many histories of Madrid but I really can’t imagine a better one exists. You can safely ignore the one star review. I simply don’t understand how he/she could have given this book a one star review. Much safer to listen to all the other five star reviews. Stewart tells the story with pace and has managed to pick out entertaining stories along the way - perhaps not so difficult with so many wonderful stories to tell. Stewart mentions that he lived in Madrid as a journalist and he applies a journalist’s keen eye for detail to the stories in this book. This experience makes the book all the more interesting. If this book is not in Spanish, it should be!Also I could not help compare Napoleon’s invasion of Spain in 1808 with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. So many parallels.

A very poor history of Madrid with an unrelentingly dismissive tone, a comic left wing bias and an inaccurate and inelegant prose style. Its reliability may be judged from the fact that the author appears to think that James I was King of England in 1593.

Excellent purchase, especially for those who are in an eternal love with Spain, like myself. Recommendations! Arrived on time, in a mint condition! I'm really satisfied!

Why hasn’t this magnificent book been translated to Spanish? A jewel like this should have been made available to Spanish readers!A fascinating travel throughout the history of Madrid and, consequently, of Spain. Not only of the facts and the buildings, but also of the people (the “madrileños”), with all their glory and miseries.I’ve had a great time reading it, and would recommend this book to anyone. Not a single dull moment. Mr Stewart has done a great job of weaving the most prominent moments of our interesting (and very often, sad and disgraceful) history. To my knowledge, he hasn’t missed any event of great significance, (I just missed a mention of Monseñor Tarancón, nowhere to be found). Specially touching is the chapter of the civil war. To the less adept about history, with this fascinating account you’ll jump from one century to the next without loosing track!The final chapter is a two day visit guide to Madrid’s best highlights.I take my virtual hat off to the author! Great job!

Die einzige verfügbare historische Biografie Madrids, von einem Autor der die Stadt zweifellos liebt.Ein gut nach Epochen gegliedertes Werk, mit leider zu wenigen Abbildungen, aber es ist ja auch kein Reiseführer. Übersichtlich führt es vom maurischen Mayrit zur Requonkista, in die Habsburgischen Ära, zur Burbonischen Zeit mit all seinen Brüchen, in die Moderne zur die Franco Zeit und in die Neuzeit. Obwohl mit geradeeinmal 255 Seiten sehr kompakt fand der Autor noch Platz für einige unterhaltsame Anektoten.

excellent

It's a great book about Madrid's since it was established till today, the chapters about Franco's dictatorship and the arrival of democracy are a must.