If you’re planning a trip to Spain, you might be thinking that it’s all about sun, sand and sangria.

That is the side of Spain that is often portrayed in popular media, but if you want to know a little more about the country you are traveling to, then it might be time to turn to some books set in Spain that delve into Spanish life and tell us about it. something of the difficult history of the country.

It hasn’t been that long since Spain was divided by a bitter civil war and subsequent years of fascism. It was not until General Francisco Franco died in 1975 after a reign of forty years, that the country could begin to become the democratic country that it is today.

You can find out what it was like for the Spanish in those years by reading the following novels.

‘Guernica’ by Dave Boling

The city of Guernica is located in the Basque region of northern Spain. In 1937, hundreds of residents died when the city was bombed by German and Italian warplanes. This inspired Pablo Picasso to create a painting of the event: the horror of the images helped draw attention to the Spanish Civil War. This novel is the story of that painting and the people depicted in it. We immerse ourselves in the life of the Ansogegui family in the run-up to the war, as well as the devastating years of the war itself, following them as they try to come to terms with the impact that the conflict they have over themselves and their loved ones. If you want to know more about the Basque people and this particular part of history, then this novel is for you.

‘The time of the pigeons’ by Merce Radoreda

Set in Barcelona before, during and after the Civil War, this novel follows Natalia’s life through her suffering and depression. It may be a story of tears, but it is also a story of hope and survival. And when you go to Barcelona, ​​you can visit La Plaça Del Diamant, the original Catalan title of the novel, and a crucial place in the novel.

‘A manuscript of ashes’ by Antonio Muñoz Molina

This novel begins during the last years of the Franco regime, at the end of the sixties. Minaya is a university student who has been imprisoned for his participation in a demonstration. He runs away to the countryside to work on his thesis and becomes engrossed in a story from the past. It is a mystery, a love story, and a portrait of the complexities and tumult of the Civil War.

‘Winter in Madrid’ by CJ Sansom

As the title suggests, the location of this novel is the Spanish capital. Englishman Harry Brett has been sent to Madrid by the British Secret Service to spy on an old friend. It’s 1940, and Harry is soon drawn into the political complexities of post-Civil War Spain. There are also, of course, one or two love stories…

‘The Return’ by Victoria Hislop

This novel is a curious mixture of children’s literature and historical fiction. And while the writing style could be considered ‘beach reading’, the subject matter is not. Told in a mixture of past and present, the novel offers a terrifying portrait of the war in the city of Granada. It shows how civil war pits neighbors and even brothers against each other, while the ensuing chaos destroys the dreams and relationships of those left behind. If you are thinking of visiting Granada, this book is essential.

Of course, enjoy the fantastic lifestyle and culture you’ll experience on a trip to Spain today, but if you really want to understand the people you meet on your trip, then any of these books will help you do that. Immersing yourself in the history of a city or country goes a long way to enhancing your travels, so why not read these novels and take that first step? And once you’ve done that, there are plenty more books set in Spain to explore…