Subject
Americans -- Spain -- Fiction Books
Best books
Ernest Hemingway
The Sun Also Rises
"The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway is a novel published in 1926. It follows American and British expatriates who travel from Paris to Pamplona, Spain, for the Festival of San Fermín to watch bullfights and the running of the bulls. At its center is Jake Barnes, a war-wounded journalist, and his complicated love for the captivating Lady Brett Ashley. Set among the cafés and parties of 1920s Paris, the novel explores themes of love, loss, masculinity, and the resilience of a generation shaped by World War I.
Charles Goddard
The Ghost Breaker: A Novel Based Upon the Play
"The Ghost Breaker: A Novel Based Upon the Play" by Charles Goddard and Paul Dickey is a fiction novel written in the early 20th century. The story begins with Warren Jarvis, a young man recently returned to his Kentucky home, grappling with the aftermath of his family's tragic past—the murder of his parents—which is deeply rooted in an ongoing feud. As he vows to avenge their deaths and navigate the mysteries surrounding his family's legacy, he is drawn into a world filled with intrigue and supernatural elements. The opening of the novel sets a dramatic tone, showcasing Warren's emotional turmoil as he arrives home to a grieving household after receiving a telegram from his ailing father. He discovers that both his mother and father have died—his mother from grief after his father's shooting. This tragic event ignites his thirst for vengeance against Jim Marcum, the man responsible for his parents' deaths. As Warren navigates his family's dark history, he meets Maria Theresa, a princess with secrets of her own. They embark on a journey intertwined with themes of revenge, loyalty, and the supernatural, as they confront their pasts and the ghostly legends surrounding her family's castle. This blend of romance, adventure, and the supernatural offers readers a unique narrative that promises a captivating exploration of familial duty and the ghosts that haunt both the living and the dead.
Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton
The Travelling Thirds
"The Travelling Thirds" by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative centers around the Moulton family, particularly their California cousin, Catalina, who brings a refreshing and unconventional spirit to the rigid dynamics of her Eastern relatives. The story unfolds as the family plans to travel to Spain, highlighting the contrasts in character, social expectations, and the desire for adventure. The opening of the novel introduces Catalina amid a group of her relatives as they discuss traveling third class to Spain, an idea that stirs discontent among her more conservative companions. Catalina's independent and determined attitude becomes evident as she firmly states her intentions to explore Spain, showcasing her desire for freedom in the face of her family's conformist views. The dynamic between her and the Moultons, especially her cousin Lydia's admiration for her audacity, sets the stage for a journey filled with cultural clashes and personal revelations. As the group sets off, tensions rise alongside the excitement of travel, illustrating the different values and personalities they embody.
Amy Ella Blanchard
The glad lady
"The glad lady" by Amy Ella Blanchard is a novel written in the early 20th century. Set in northern Spain, it follows spirited American Patience “Patty” Blake, her sister Doña Martina, and their Spanish family and friends as they spend a summer in Asturias. Through fiestas, village customs, seaside rambles, and visits to ancient houses, the tale mixes travel color, gentle romance, and cross‑cultural comedy—especially around Patty’s flirtatious banter with Don Tomás and a homesick American engineer, Robert Lisle. It promises a warm, picturesque story of manners, friendship, and light-hearted intrigue rather than high drama. At the start of the story, a small party gathers in San Sebastián: Dr. Juan Estradas and his American wife Martina, his brother Tomás, and Martina’s sister Patty with her schoolmate Paulette. Patty’s teasing charm and halting Spanish lead Tomás to dub her “the glad lady,” and the group moves on to a mountain town, where a clean but primitive inn, the lively plaza, and village routines set the scene. They visit a peasant weaver and a venerable old house, stroll to a cave-fringed beach, and lunch in style at Don Felipe’s antiquity-filled palacio, leaving with souvenir cups and later bouquets. A reserved traveler reappears as Robert Lisle, an American with Kentucky roots, who bonds with Patty over homesickness. The party then settles into the Estrada family home, and St. John’s Eve and Day bring local traditions: decking streams and the fountain with flowers, villagers bringing gifts—including a lamb from Perdita—and preparations for music and dancing as the community arrives singing a song in honor of Don Juan.
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