His sexually charged, fearlessly personal style of filmmaking has never been in vogue with mainstream critics, but for lovers of the strange and sado-erotic he is a magician, spinning his unique and disturbing dream worlds from the cheapest of budgets.In the world of Jess Franco freedom was the key, and he pushed at the boundaries of taste and censorship over and over again, throughout an astonishingly varied career spanning sixty years. The director of more than 180 films, at his most prolific he reached a supercharged frenzy that yielded as many as twelve films per year, making him one of the most prolific filmmakers of all time.Franco was the winner of a Lifetime Achievement prize at the 2009 Spanish Goya Film Awards, but his appeal does not depend upon mainstream respect; instead fans around the world have embraced his cinema, first on video and then more and more frequently on DVD and Blu-Ray. Where once he was castigated for slapdash haste, many fans today not only accept but even revel in the rough edges of his work. His delirious improvisations and raw, punkish spontaneity turn the basics of popular cinema, sex and violence, into a whirl of sensations, a seductive and bewitching spectacle that could only be the work of one man.Franco's taste for the sexy and horrific, his lifelong obsession with the Marquis De Sade and his roving hand-held camera style birthed a whole new strain of erotic cinema. Disturbing, exciting and defiantly avant-garde, films such as Necronomicon, Vampyros Lesbos, Virgin Among the Living Dead and Venus in Furs are among the jewels of European horror, while a plethora of multiple versions, re-edits and echoes of earlier works turn the Franco experience into a dizzying hall of mirrors, further entrancing the viewer who dares enter Franco's domain.Stephen Thrower has devoted five years to examining each and every Franco film. This book - the first in a two-volume set - delves into the first half of Franco's career: from his avant-garde comedy Tenemos 18 a�os in 1959, through the groundbreaking surgical horror story The Awful Dr. Orlof and the art-horror masterpiece Necronomicon, to his grisly psycho-killer opus Exorcism in 1974. Ably assisted by the esteemed critic and researcher Julian Grainger, Thrower shines a light into the darkest corners of the Franco filmography and uncovers previously unknown and unsuspected facts about their casts, crews and production histories.Unparalleled in scope and ambition, Murderous Passions brings Franco's career into focus in a landmark study that aims to provide the definitive assessment of Jess Franco's labyrinthine film universe.

    But he doesn't know how old - he remembers nothing before his arrival at an orphanage during the Spanish civil war. He rarely thinks about his missing childhood, but when seven-year-old Tino discovers his grandfather has never had a birthday party, never blown out candles on a birthday cake, never received a single birthday present, he's determined things should change. And so the two set out to find Alberto's birthday.Their search for the old man's memories takes them deep into the heart of Spain - a country that has pledged to forget its painful past. As stories of courage, cruelty and love unfold, Alberto realises that he has lost more than a birthday. He has lost a part of himself. But with his grandson's help, he might just find it again.

    Stories from the aftermath of the war, the exile and the Franco regime are also included.In addition with dealing with the more obvious themes such as anarchism, the Spanish Republic, Catalonia, George Orwell, the aerial bombing, and the May Days, etc, the book also looks at themes such as the Zoo during the Civil War, the American Sixth Fleet in the city, Barça, urbanism, Nazis in Barcelona, Robert Capa, the Spanish in the Holocaust, poster art... Intertwined in the text are contemporary quotes and a few personal stories of people I have met who experienced the war or its aftermath. There are also biographies of characters such as Andreu Nin and Lluís Companys.

    A compelling and delightful read' - Santa Montefiore In the hilltop villa with its spectacular views across rolling countryside to the straits of Gibraltar, Lucy anxiously awaits the arrival of her brother and sister. They’re spending the weekend together to say farewell to Casa de Sueños, the house in the mountains of southern Spain where they grew up. Her sister, Jo, landing at the airport with her fractious four year old, dreads the prospect of this time with her family which will fulfil their mother’s last instructions that they celebrate her birthday together. Only this time their mother won’t be there. Tom, their brother, remembers the chaos of his bohemian upbringing and wants nothing more than for their stay to go off without a hitch. Then a beautiful face from his past appears at the villa . . . Over one long, hot week weekend, past secrets will spill out, making the siblings question themselves, the choices they’ve made and where their future lies in this gorgeous new novel from Fanny Blake.

    His search for the truth ends in a raucous gun battle between thirty ships, while the majority of the pueblo remains positioned on the beach, defending an ancient tradition. In the fray, a bunch of dysfunctional expats fight to keep their dreams of living in the sun alive. This enigmatic novel oozes glimpses of no-bull-truth, revealing the naked underbelly of being an expat living on the Costa Blanca. This raw novel stirs up a paella of murderous gangsters, eccentric Indian bar owners, a sociopathic hotel owner and a quirky xenophobic cop. The brutal murder of a young English woman - turned prostitute, forbidden love, a donkey named Pedro, and out of work sixty-something-gossipmongers ensconced in the local bar - paint a colourful, ragtag, group of characters. If you're not cringing, you're laughing and wondering, what the hell next?When I moved to Spain twelve years ago, I imagined the expats would be affluent go-getters searching for something new and strange. I pictured intellectuals working on books about their exotic travels and painting watercolour scenes of beach barbeques, backlit by the blue Mediterranean. All while discussing this evening’s meeting at the amateur dramatic society over chilled sangria and various tapas.Instead I was faced with desperate people chasing after the same crumbs, associating with English people they would normally avoid back in the UK. I never thought I would meet Romanian gangsters, British smugglers, property scammers, drug dealers, slave traded prostitutes and murderers. However, they all sat in my local bar wearing cheap flip flops and sawn off clothes. All of them blended in with the latest holiday makers. But this isn’t my story; this is Danny's.I first saw Danny running through the car park of our neighbourhood adjacent to the beach. He was flamboyantly dressed as El Zorro and chasing a breast-heavy woman in her fab-fifties as she desperately clutched a freshly baked baguette and skilfully jogged in her fluffy flip flops.

    And then there is the other side...Mark Shearman moved to Spain in 2002 with his partner and four year old daughter. His observations are from a successful building contractor, owner of an estate agency and journalist.He has included some amusing anecdotes and articles, which all promise one thing - the truth. http://shermdonor.blogspot.com.es Reading Flip Flop Flamenco Mark's novel about a shaming debt collector will also give you a flavour of what it is like to live as an expat on the Costa Blanca.

    This guidebook gives you everything you need to plan your Camino including advice on: • what to take and what not to take • which type of backpack to buy • what footwear to choose • how to get to Sarria • how much your Camino will cost and how to keep costs down This guidebook provides you with: • estimated walking times from village to village • highly accurate 3D distances from village to village • maps of each stage • highly accurate elevation charts • maps of most villages, all towns and all cities showing the location of accommodation and facilities • GPS coordinates of every hostel, every village, town and city and points of interest. • details of every pilgrim hostel (albergue) between Sarria and Santiago With background, history and anecdotes this guidebook will be a true companion on your journey on the Way of Saint James.

    At 32 years old, he desperately needed to find direction and meaningful purpose in his life. With no physical training, he decided his answers were waiting for him somewhere along the historic 490-mile pilgrimage route called the Camino de Santiago in Spain. From the physical high of crossing the Pyrenees Mountains to the mind numbing rhythm of walking through the endless wheat fields of the Meseta, the route was filled with many challenges. Accompanied by his “guru” wife Amy, Schirm faces setbacks like bed bugs and tendinitis, all in the pursuit of elusive answers. The lessons came from the serendipitous experiences and conversations with fellow pilgrims from all over the world. Sunrises to Santiago chronicles a wondrous journey of personal growth, physical pain, and outdoor adventure while teaching us all to enjoy life’s incredible journey.

    And when discovery threatens to overturn your whole life…‘The author’s love for and familiarity with Granada and life in Spain shine through on every page’ – Jill Foulston, author of La Vita E’ BellaPassionate, free-spirited Deborah has finally found peace and a fulfilling relationship in her adopted city of Granada – but when she is seriously injured in the Madrid train bombings of 2004, it is her sister Alice who is forced to face the consequences of a deception they have maintained for ten years.At Deborah’s home in Granada, Alice waits, ever more fearful. Will her sister live or die? And how long should she stay when each day brings the risk of what she most dreads, a confrontation with Deborah’s Moroccan ex-lover, Hassan? At stake is all she holds dear…Secrets of the Pomegranate explores, with compassion, sensitivity and – despite the tragic events – humour, the complicated ties between sisters, between mothers and sons and between lovers, set against a background of cultural difference and prejudices rooted in Granada’s long history of Muslim-Christian struggles for power.

    With his Nemesis, Danny Kusemi, on remand for murder, some vestige of normality was returning to his new life abroad. However, on the opening night of his new boutique hotel, James soon realises that the previous incident is far from over and with the Russian mafia now involved, he is, once again, in mortal danger. 'Bitter Lemons' is the sequel to the debut novel, 'Under a Mallorcan Sky' by former police detective, Neil Doloughan.

    It is a melting pot of talent, taste and tenacity, all courtesy of a population of fun-loving residents.The Monocle Travel Series reveals our favourite places in each city we cover, from the ideal route for an early-morning run to the best spots for independent retail. Full of surprises and quirks, they also feature detailed design and architecture pages, neighbourhood walks to get you away from the crowds and our favourite places to eat, be it tasty fast food or something truly celebratory.

     DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Northern Spain is your in-depth guide to the very best of Northern Spain.Our Eyewitness Travel Guide to Northern Spain is packed with culture and activities for travelers to enjoy. We'll connect you with the best restaurants, bars, and cafes, and we'll give you insider tips for taking fantastic walking excursions and finding fun activities for either the solitary traveler or for families with children. From local festivals and markets to site-seeing trips to the countryside, from day trips to nightlife, our guide to Northern Spain has everything you'll need to create a memorable trip on any budget.Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Northern Spain Detailed itineraries and "don't miss" destination highlights at a glance. Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights. Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area. Area maps marked with sights. Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Northern Spain truly shows you Northern Spain as no one else can.Recommended: For an in-depth guidebook to Spain, check out DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Spain , which offers the most complete coverage of Spain, trip-planning itineraries, and more.

    It is the biography of an individual but also of a collective agent—the working class Peirats was born into—and the affective ties of kinship, friendship, and community that cemented into a movement, the most powerful of its type in the world.Chris Ealham is the author of Anarchism and the City: Revolution and Counter-revolution in Barcelona, 1898–1937.

    At once farcical and deeply philosophical, Cervantes’ novel and its characters have become integrated into the cultures of the Western Hemisphere, influencing language and modern thought while inspiring art and artists such as Richard Strauss and Pablo Picasso. Based on Professor Roberto González Echevarría’s popular open course at Yale University, this essential guide to the enduring Spanish classic facilitates a close reading of Don Quixote in the artistic and historical context of renaissance and baroque Spain while exploring why Cervantes’ masterwork is still widely read and relevant today. González Echevarría addresses the novel’s major themes and demonstrates how the story of an aging, deluded would-be knight-errant embodies that most modern of predicaments: the individual’s dissatisfaction with the world in which he lives, and his struggle to make that world mesh with his desires.

    It is February, 1939, and Franco's troops descend upon Barcelona as the Spanish Civil War grinds to its sinister end. Bereaved and facing starvation, Christine Daaé fights for survival as the shadow of the Second World War looms over Spain. Soon, she will be forced to deal with Erik Deschamps, a terrifying mercenary whose only loyalty is to her.

    It covers the period when the doctrines of the Reformation were agitating the minds of men in so fearful a manner as to shake the very foundations of the Romish hierarchy in the fierce contest which divided Christendom. Philip, both from his personal character, and from his position as sovereign of the most potent monarchy in Europe, was placed at the head of the party which strove to uphold the fortunes of the ancient Church; and thus his policy led him perpetually to interfere in the internal affairs of the other European states…

    But as he journeyed through its hidden courtyards, scented gardens and sun-warmed plazas, Steven discovered that Granada's present cannot be separated from its past, and began an eight-year quest to discover more. Where once Christians, Muslims and Jews lived peacefully together and the arts and sciences flourished, Granada also witnessed brutality: places of worship razed to the ground, books burned, massacre and anarchy. In the 1600s the once-populous city was reduced to 6,000 who lived among rubble. In the next three centuries, the deterioration worsened, and the city became a refuge for anarchists; then during the Spanish Civil War, fascism took hold. Literary and sensual, Steven Nightingale produces a portrait of a now-thriving city and the joy he discovered there, revealing the resilience and kindness of its people, the resonance of its gardens and architecture and the cyclical nature of darkness and light in the history of Andalucia. At once personal and far-reaching, Granada is an epic journey through the soul of this most iconic of cities.

    The Seriously Mum books have tracked their progress over the last 7 years. Now, finally, all three books are available in one collection. Follow Alan and Lorna as they hunt for, and find a new home, collect a menagerie of animals, including their beautiful new alpacas. Cowboy builders, wild neighbours, new friends, old friends and medical emergencies will keep you entertained for hours.

    Jeffrey Gorsky vividly relates this colorful period of Jewish history, from the era when Jewish culture was at its height in Muslim Spain to the horrors of the Inquisition and the Expulsion.Twenty percent of Jews today are descended from Sephardic Jews, who created significant works in religion, literature, science, and philosophy. They flourished under both Muslim and Christian rule, enjoying prosperity and power unsurpassed in Europe. Their cultural contributions include important poets; the great Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides; and Moses de Leon, author of the Zohar, the core text of the Kabbalah.But these Jews also endured considerable hardship. Fundamentalist Islamic tribes drove them from Muslim to Christian Spain. In 1391 thousands were killed and more than a third were forced to convert by anti-Jewish rioters. A century later the Spanish Inquisition began, accusing thousands of these converts of heresy. By the end of the fifteenth century Jews had been expelled from Spain and forcibly converted in Portugal and Navarre. After almost a millennium of harmonious existence, what had been the most populous and prosperous Jewish community in Europe ceased to exist on the Iberian Peninsula.

    Eibar the Brave tells the amazing Cinderella story of La Liga's smallest club, which has seen Barcelona and Real Madrid playing top-tier football at Ipurua, the 5000-capacity stadium that Eibar calls home. Promotion-party pitch invasions are not uncommon; but the night of May 25, 2014 saw a promotion with a difference, involving a wildly unorthodox club. There weren't enough fans to cover the pitch. The celebration was 45 minutes after the final whistle. The team was wearing their away kit despite having played at home. And Eibar could still potentially be relegated! Having followed Eibar and witnessed the madness first-hand, Euan McTear documents the club's first season in La Liga and discusses all the pieces put into place over the years to make 2014/15 a season like no other.

    It explores the political ideas of leading Partido Obrero de Unificacion Marxista (POUM) figures, Andreu Nin and Joaquin Maurin, and their complex relationship with Trotsky. The contention is that the POUM owed far more to Trotsky than many of the party's historians care to admit.

    As mutual suspicions spread amongst the various groups which make up the brigade, it seems as if the unit - which is desperately needed for the defence of Madrid - is about to disintegrate. And so it is that Paco Ruiz is once more called upon to revert to his pre-war role as homicide detective.It is not a role that Paco relishes. He has little idea of how to deal with these people from a foreign land whose culture he does not even begin to understand. And even some of the locals seem less than willing to co-operate. Why do some of the peasants seem glad the brigadista who came to defend them is dead? Why does the Lincoln's commander insist that the murderer must have come from outside the village, when it is obvious to Paco that he did not? And how great is the danger that before the case is over Paco will lose Cindy Walker - the woman he loves - to her old college professor?As the clock relentlessly ticks away, Paco struggles with one of the most complex cases of his career, never realising that he too, has been marked for death.Regular readers of Sally Spencer's Woodend and Paniatowski books will already be familiar with Paco Ruiz, who makes his first appearance in THE BUTCHER BEYOND, crops up again in ECHOES OF THE DEAD (selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the 12 best detective novels of 2011) and plays a vital role in DEATH'S DARK SHADOWS.

    It was now or never; if our courage failed us now, it would be never. So we went for it; husband and I both took early retirement from our jobs and announce to friends and family that we were upping sticks and moving from our suburban semi-detached to start a new life on Spain´s glorious Costa Blanca. The reaction was the same from almost everybody. A gasp of “Oh, you lucky things!” was followed by a more cautious; “But what are you going to do with yourselves all day? You´ll be ever so bored when the novelty wears off.” A few, less polite folk simply doubted our sanity, and warned us we would be back within a year. Perhaps we are lucky. The novelty has never worn off. We find as much excitement in each new day as we did on that very first day we stepped off the ´plane into glorious sunshine. Because this is the reality of the dream. We wanted no more than what virtually every wanna be ex-pat dreams of; like most people, our ambitions were modest. We wanted a new life in the sun, without the restrictions of work and weather. We had no ambitions to buy a house with a garden big enough to start a zoo in the back yard. We didn´t even want to start up a Bed and Breakfast business. We just wanted to be happy in our retirement, in our new life. In our own little corner of paradise. And these memories are a reflection of that dream; the dream that came true. And for those we left behind in the UK, and especially those friends and colleagues who doubted our sanity a decade ago, I can only suggest that they take a look at this gentle amble through our lives. At memories of lions kept as guard dogs; of stolen electric meters and intransigent officials. Stories of forest fires and fiestas. Of wild boars and lollipops. And, of course, that pesky vulture on Paco´s roof…. And a special “thank you” to the many kind people who have contacted me after reading my “how to” guides on moving here (“Dreaming of Moving to the Costa Blanca?” Volumes 1 and 2) asking what it is really like to actually live here on the Costa Blanca. It was their curiosity that prompted this book; for this is perhaps the most popular question I have received, from readers as far afield as the USA and Canada and the Philippines (not to mention West Yorkshire!); the information on how to do it is great, but what´s it like? Really? Enquire within…..

    Although various laws and decrees outlawed indio enslavement, several loopholes allowed the practice to continue. In Global Indios Nancy E. van Deusen documents the more than one hundred lawsuits between 1530 and 1585 that indio slaves living in Castile brought to the Spanish courts to secure their freedom. Because plaintiffs had to prove their indio-ness in a Spanish imperial context, these lawsuits reveal the difficulties of determining who was an indio and who was not—especially since it was an all-encompassing construct connoting subservience and political personhood and at times could refer to people from Mexico, Peru, or South or East Asia. Van Deusen demonstrates that the categories of free and slave were often not easily defined, and she forces a rethinking of the meaning of indio in ways that emphasize the need to situate colonial Spanish American indigenous subjects in a global context.

    First published in 1995, it combines an amusing autobiography with a wealth of information about Mallorca including its history and customs, providing an entertaining read with a practical guide for the visitor seeking greater insight into places and events off the tourist track. This new version covers the many changes that have taken place during the past 20 years, while altering Pamela's text as little as possible and leaving her story unchanged. The e-book format enables quick access to information on places of interest, fiestas, history and many other topics, making it the ideal travelling companion. Claire Baker's original line drawings have also been retained.Pamela holidayed on Mallorca in 1952 and unexpectedly found herself working as a temporary assistant to Robert Graves. She spent her honeymoon on the island two years later and, in 1986, made her home there. In this book she records how she and her husband adapted to expatriate life in the sun, the complexities of building a house in Spain, and her various encounters with local eccentrics and bureaucracy.She also provides a fascinating introduction to the many customs and traditions that can still be observed by any visitor or resident who is willing to venture outside the tourist resorts in order to discover the 'real' Mallorca. Her many years with a firm of information management consultants are reflected in her well-researched coverage of the island's traditional fiestas and history which make this a valuable reference work as well as an enjoyable first-hand account of what it is like to live in modern Spain.Her love for Mallorca is evident in every chapter and her observations on its culture, scenery, flora and fauna reveal her total involvement with this 'jewel of the Mediterranean'.Enjoying Mallorca describes virtually every town and village on the island, together with a small number of tried and tested restaurants. In addition to sights and events that should not be missed, the reader is introduced to some of the people who made the author's life there such a rich experience. Sample letters from Robert Graves give a glimpse of him not just as the famous author and poet, but also as a man displaying genuine consideration and concern for his friends.