Reading Lists?

JKettmann

I ran across a list of recommended books to read in advance of Northern Spain and cannot relocate this list...is there a good location for the various destinations? Sorry not as many book readers as there used to be

Wan

I haven't seen where there is one reading list for all the destinations. However, when you go into your account on this website to look at your tours, for each tour there is a "Before You Go" section. If you then click on the name of your tour/destination, you will get an expansion with a list, and if you scroll down you will get to the reading list.
I have been sent this as part of the itinerary, but that doesn't usually come until about a month before the tour. It is nice to have it in advance.

British

I’ve tried to copy the list from the website which shows photos of the books, but it comes out like this ….
I do often find that the books Tauck recommend are out of print or very expensive if you can find them used. I’ve also bought some in the past that turn out to be of questionable interest.

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Northern Spain, The Rioja Valley and Madrid
Recommended Reading

Ghosts of Spain
Ghosts of Spain
View on Amazon Part travel memoir, part social history and commentary, this engaging book highlights the unique aspects of Spain and how the past plays a critical role in current culture. By Giles Tremlett.
Grape, Olive, Pig
Grape, Olive, Pig
View on Amazon The author reveals hidden gems and enduring delicacies from all regions of Spain, contextualizing each meal with the stories behind the food in a cultural narrative complemented by stunning color photography. Also available as an audiobook. By Matt Goulding.
Spain: The Root and the Flower
Spain: The Root and the Flower
View on Amazon An absorbing, penetrating account of Spanish cultural history and identity from prehistory to the Romans, Jews, Moors, Golden Age and on to Franco and his legacy. By John A Crow.
The Franco Regime: 1936-1975
The Franco Regime: 1936-1975
View on Amazon The history of modern Spain is dominated by Francisco Franco, who presided over one of the longest authoritarian regimes of the 20th century. The author offers insight into this formidable figure and the enormous changes that shaped Spanish history during his reign. By Stanley G Payne.
Barcelona
Barcelona
View on Amazon The art critic extraordinaire reveals the city's history and culture, focusing on its "golden age" (1850-1925)—coinciding with the life of Antoni Gaudí—and pointing out what makes its architecture uniquely Catalan. By Robert Hughes.
The Shadow of the Wind
The Shadow of the Wind
View on Amazon The son of an antiquarian bookseller's discovery of a rare book provides insight into 1950s Barcelona at the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War. By Carlos Ruiz Zafon; translated by Lucia Graves.
The Black Madonna of Montserrat
The Black Madonna of Montserrat
View on academia.edu This scholarly paper explores the significance of the Black Madonna. Although not entirely unusual—there are hundreds of Black Madonna sculptures and icons throughout Europe alone—the Catalonian sculpture is one of the most consistently venerated examples of this type. By Elisa A Foster.
The Sun Also Rises
The Sun Also Rises
View on Amazon First published in 1926, a poignant look at the disillusionment and angst of the post-World War I generation. The classic novel story follows the flamboyant Brett and the hapless Jake as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Andalucia (the famous arena at Ronda was an inspiration) and the running of the bulls in Pamplona. Also available as an audiobook. By Ernest Hemingway.
The New Spain: A Complete Guide to Contemporary Spanish Wine
The New Spain: A Complete Guide to Contemporary Spanish Wine
View on Amazon A region-by-region tour of Spain’s rapidly changing vineyards and wineries. By John Radford.
Basque Country: A Culinary Journey
Basque Country: A Culinary Journey
View on Amazon A highly rated culinary exploration of this Spanish-but-not region, known for being a food lover's paradise. The author brings together its intensely ingredient-driven recipes with stories of Basque customs and the Basque kitchen, and vivid photographs of both food and place. By Marti Buckley.
Homeland
Homeland
View on Amazon This acclaimed novel from a celebrated Basque language writer from San Sebastian was the inspiration for HBO’s popular series, Patria. The novel is set in the heart of Spain’s Basque country, where two friends, Miren and Bittori, find their worlds upended by violence. When Bittori’s husband runs afoul of the separatist organization ETA, which Miren’s son is involved in, both women must choose between their friendship and their families. Also available as an audiobook. By Fernando Aramburu, translated by Alfred MacAdam.
Don Quixote
Don Quixote
View on Amazon The translation par excellence of Cervantes' classic, which chronicles the adventures of the self-created knight-errant and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, as they travel through 16th-century Spain. Also available as an audiobook. By Miguel de Cervantes; translated by Edith Grossman.
Rosalía de Castro: Selected Poems
Rosalía de Castro: Selected Poems
View on Amazon The Galicia-native romantic poet (1837-1885), known for her sorrowful tenor, is an essential stepping-stone on the way to 20th-century Spanish poetry, since her work would wield great influence on Federico García Lorca and Luis Cernuda. By Rosalia de Castro; translated by Michael Smith.
The Lore of the Camino de Santiago: A Literary Pilgrimage
The Lore of the Camino de Santiago: A Literary Pilgrimage
View on Amazon A collection of stories, myths and anecdotes from history that provide a foundation for the pilgrimage route. By Jean Mitchell-Lanham.
Jamón Ibérico: A Connoisseur's Guide
Jamón Ibérico: A Connoisseur's Guide
View on Amazon In the culinary world, no ham rivals Spain’s jamón ibérico in flavor or texture. Made from Iberian pigs raised on a diet of acorns in the woodlands (dehesa) of the country’s southwest, it must be tasted to be believed. This guide explores everything that makes jamón ibérico special. By David Raezer and Jennifer Raezer.
Isabella: The Warrior Queen
Isabella: The Warrior Queen
View on Amazon In 1474, Isabella seized the reigns of power in Castile and León, embarking on legendary achievements: ending the century-old struggle against Muslims on the Iberian peninsula, sponsoring Columbus' trip to the Indies and negotiating Spanish control over much of the New World. Using new scholarship, the author tells the incredible story of Spain's queen (interred in Granada's Royal Chapel). By Kirsten Downey.
Tristana
Tristana
View on Amazon Set in late-19th-century Madrid, this novel is one of the best from the great Gran Canaria-born writer (1843-1920). Don Lope is a Don Juan, an aging but still effective predator on the opposite sex. He seduced the young, lovely Tristana. However, Tristana learns the game and outmaneuvers the predator. Even in defeat, when it counts, Don Lope will be there for her. By Benito Pérez Galdós; translated by Margaret Jull Costa

Claudia Sails

Rick Steves website also maintains lists of recommended books and movies. It's tricky to find. I usually go to Google and enter something like "rick steves recommended books spain" and can find it.