A Pilgrim in Spain

Description

Christopher Howse has spent more than two decades exploring Spain. For him, its centuries-old cathedrals, monasteries and shrines demand pilgrimage more than tourism. In a journey across the Castilian interior he follows in the footsteps of El Cid and St Dominic, examines St Teresa's arm, samples the legacy of the Cardinal who invaded Africa, finds the spot where St John of the Cross escaped from prison, and discovers in a mountain shrine the world's largest remnant of the True Cross. He comes across a slaughterhouse dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and a cock and hen living in a cathedral. He hears of uncivil war in Europe's most civilised square and enjoys the smells, heat, food, noise, prayers, tears, flies, smoke, violence and laughter of an ancient culture in its last years. With an eye for the humorous and strange, he spends time in Soria and Silos, Yuste and Segovia, before turning from the pilgrim destination of Santiago de Compostela to the valleys of Extremadura, where the Virgin of Guadalupe took the Spanish to an unknown world.

Christopher Howse is an assistant editor of The Daily Telegraph and a regular contributor to The Spectator and The Tablet. Among his bestselling books for Continuum are Prayers for This Life (2005) and The Assurance of Hope (2006). He is the author of How We Saw It: 150 years of The Daily Telegraph (2004).

"[A] fascinating account of places of pilgrimage in Spain ... Curiously titled chapters (e.g. 'Adoration at the Disco') and the author's subtle wit make this very readable." -- The Bookseller 'A wonderful book from the Daily Telegraph writer... With typical wit he recounts his diverse encounters which will appeal both to religious readers and armchair travellers alike.' -- The Bookseller Attended Hay Festival 2011 "Aided by a good ear, an eye for the absurd, an obviously refined sense of smell, and a pair of binoculars given to him by Bruce Bernard (the expert on paintings and photographs), Howse appears to register everything about his immediate surroundings, from the musings of a batty old woman, down to the grafitti in a toilet, and to a place comically named the centro de inseminacion porcina... A Pilgrim in Spain is a book whose myriad eccentricities mirror those of the Spain it celebrates." -- The Spectator "Blending humour and faith, this book offers a marvellous look at the way landscape is shaped by belief and history." -- The Catholic Herald "The book has a leisurely, discursive feel, offering asides on blood sausage consumption, troglodytism and the intricacies of church altar rails... Howse brocades A Pilgrim in Spain with bibliographic allusions and excels at revealing the spirit of a place... in the end I warmed to the sheer Edward Leer-like strangeness of this book." -- The Daily Telegraph A Pilgrim in Spain can be employed as a useful guide to areas of Spain still undisturbed by mass tourism. Howse is informative about cathedrals, churches, monasteries, and convents, but his eyes and ears take in every aspect of the cities, towns and villages he visits. The sights and smells of this uniquely beautiful and ragged county are conveyed throughout. -- Oldie Featured in an advert in the Church Times' Books for Christmas supplement. ... [a] captivating book... Each chapter is devoted to one particular area, and this structure- as well as giving a sense of order and progress to the book- allows Howse to roam freely between description, history, theology, custom, cookery, architecture, anecdote and devotion. In a conversational style which almost belies this breadth of knowledge, he allows us to feel that we are being let into a series of delightful and interwoven secrets. -- Oremus, Edition No. 167 ... those who cherish slow travel, local tapas bars and ancient churches will relish Christopher Howse's inquiry into Roman Catholic Castille, empowered by 20 years of travel through mountains, plateaux and the troubled history of the kingdom. -- Selected by Barnaby Rogerson as one of his favourite British travel books of 2011 in County Life Author article in The Spectator. The book has been shortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize; the winner is due to be announced on 24th February 2012. Howse not only knows his Spain well but he has done a lot of careful research into the background of Spanish history... the reading of [this] book was a sheer pleasure. -- The Pastoral Review Title referred to in Peter Stanford's column in The Tablet. Author article in The Catholic Herald. [Howse] loves Spain deeply, and while not turning his gaze from Spain's troubled past, he conveys that love and helps the reader travel more deeply into Spain. A Pilgrim in Spain has found its place on my shelf of essential books about Spain. -- Confraternity of Saint James Bulletin Certainly there is much here to delight and instruct... [Howse] has a humorous turn of phrase and an erudite style. -- La Revista- The Anglo-Spanish Society Review 229 Author article in The Daily Telegraph Title mentioned in The Daily Telegraph (Travel) Title referred to in the further reading list of article on Segovia in The Daily Telegraph. [Christopher Howse] has an eye for the amusing and the way-out. -- The Church of England Newspaper If you want a witty and erudite cicerone round the heart of Old Spain, read Christopher Howse's A Pilgrim in Spain... His curiosity and descriptive powers do it ample justice. -- The Tablet ... Howse is not without useful advice... around every corner there are fresh surprises... -- The Tablet The text, dense with historical facts and minute observation, demands careful reading... Savoured slowly, the book is richly rewarding for those who enjoy poking around in the past -- Standpoint Howse shows that he has a pleasing eye for anecdotes. A regular visitor to Spain for the last 20-off years, he is a keen observer of its apparent oddities, whether noticing a slaughterhouse dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows or pondering why a henhouse cooping up a white cockerel is inside a cathedral -- The Times Howse is an excellent companion -- Times Literary Supplement It is a carefully written book that does not require previous knowledge of the country, but paints it with devotion and sympathy. I recommend it without hesitation. -- The Good Bookstall Savoured slowly, the book is richly rewarding for those who enjoy poking around in the past... To travel with him through these pages is a delight. -- Standpoint Article on telegraph.co.uk