His knowledge of this intriguing country is second to none and frankly in a market which has been cornered in the UK by the ubiquitous historian Paul Preston its good to hear another voice. The title of the book almost suggests a "Spain for Dummies" style thesis when in fact this is a sprightly romp through the entirety of Spanish history from the legacy of the Moors, the rise of the Spanish empire and the Golden Age right up to Franco, the emergence of King Juan Carlos and finally topped off with the blessed transition back to democracy.