He found a country broken by the Civil War, but the totems of indestructible Spain survive; the Christ in agony, the thrilling flamenco cry, the gypsy intensity in vivid whitewashed slums, the cult of the bullfight, the exultation in death, the humour of hopelessness and the paradoxes deep in the fiery bones of Spain. Rich with kaleidoscopic images, A Rose for Winter is as evocative as the sun-scorched landscape of Andalusia itself.Cover Photograph: Irene Lamprakou

    It covers sourcing, building, testing and then setting off in the amphibious jeep from North America across the Atlantic to the western Sahara, before driving it up to England and undertaking a protracted rebuild.

    With his trademark wit and inquisitive eye, H. V. Morton travels through a Spain unspoilt by tourism, revealing a country where the past is very much alive. Interspersed with episodes from Spain's rich history, A Stranger in Spain is a journey of discovery that should appeal to those with a sense of adventure. Morton’s classic travel book on Spain is a delightful travel guide and a striking introduction to Spanish history and culture. "The stranger who wishes to approach Spain with sympathy and appreciation," H. V. Morton wrote, "must do so through its history." Thus, as he takes us on a leisurely tour through a country where the past is very much alive, he reveals a rich tapestry of events, related with his inimitable humor, charm, and sincerity. The Spain of the Christian kings and the caliphs of Córdoba, of Philip II, and the tragic Hapsburgs, the Spain of Columbus, of St Teresa, of Cortés and Pizarro, Velázquez, and Goya, is the thread on which his narrative is strung. Vivid, varied, and enchanting, A Stranger in Spain reflects the pleasures and surprises of travel at its best, and will be enjoyed by all who know the country or intend to visit it, or simply prefer to travel at home.