
audiobook
by L. Higgin, Eugène E. (Eugène Edward) Street
OUR EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURS - EDITED BY - WILLIAM HARBUTT DAWSON - SPANISH LIFE IN TOWN AND COUNTRY
Transcriber's note: Spelling mistakes have been left in the text to match the original, except for obvious typos, marked like this.
SPANISH LIFE IN TOWN AND COUNTRY - By L. HIGGIN - WITH CHAPTERS ON - PORTUGUESE LIFE IN TOWN AND COUNTRY, BY EUGÈNE E. STREET - ILLUSTRATED - G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS NEW YORK AND LONDON The Knickerbocker Press 1904
NOTE BY THE EDITOR
ILLUSTRATIONS
SPANISH LIFE IN TOWN AND COUNTRY - CHAPTER I - LAND AND PEOPLE
CHAPTER II - TYPES AND TRAITS
CHAPTER III - NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
CHAPTER IV - SPANISH SOCIETY
CHAPTER V - MODERN MADRID
A lively portrait of the Iberian Peninsula unfolds as the author guides listeners beyond the glossy postcards that have long shaped outsiders’ ideas of Spain and Portugal. Drawing on personal travel and careful observation, he challenges the notion that the region harbors any hostility toward English‑speaking visitors, instead revealing a courteous people whose customs often puzzle the uninformed traveler. The narrative balances witty commentary with a respectful curiosity, making the cultural nuances feel both accessible and vivid.
The book moves from bustling plazas and grand bullrings to quiet mountain villages, painting each scene with rich detail and accompanying illustrations of mantillas, water tribunals, and rustic farm life. Readers encounter the rhythms of daily labor, the pageantry of festivals, and the subtle differences between Spanish and Portuguese ways of living, all presented in a tone that feels like a knowledgeable friend sharing stories over tea. These snapshots capture the texture of everyday life without sacrificing scholarly insight.
Perfect for anyone eager to hear the true sounds of Iberian streets, markets, and countryside, the work invites listeners to set aside romantic myths and experience the region’s authentic spirit, one vivid vignette at a time.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (445K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Riikka Talonpoika, Pilar Somoza and The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2006-03-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

A Victorian writer with an unusually wide range, she moved between fiction, travel writing, and practical needlework guides. Her books also reflect a deep knowledge of Spain, a subject that helped set her apart from many of her contemporaries.
View all booksd. 1913
A lively travel writer of the early 1900s, he is best known for books that explore everyday life in Portugal and Spain with a curious outsider’s eye.
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