I don't know much about Spanish history and would like to learn, particular from a book that tells it in "story" form (rather than one that gets into historiography). Does anyone have recommendations? I'm more interested in the medieval than colonial periods.
Thanks!
Got a few recommendations for you.
Two by Maria Rosa Menocal: The Ornament of the World is a good (if a bit sensationalized) summary of the concept of "convivencia" in medieval Spain. Her The Arts of Intimacy (written alongside Jerrilyn Dodds and Abigail Krasner Balbale) is a big coffee-table-style book, filled with beautiful pictures of art, literature, and architecture, and talks about the creation of Castilian culture.
Olivia Constable's Medieval Iberia is a collection of English translations of excerpts of primary documents from Christians, Muslims, and Jews from the beginning to the end of the Middle Ages--covering poetry, theology, chronicles, and all sorts of other stuff. It's a great way to get a look at firsthand accounts of the period.
One that's definitely more academic, but still an interesting read, is Communities of Violence by David Nirenberg. It's specifically about the use of violence to maintain cultural boundaries in later medieval Aragon. A fascinating look at interreligious tolerance.
I'll edit if I think of more, and please feel free to ask for more specific recommendations.
I highly recommend checking out Henry Kamen. He's written a number of texts covering different periods of Spanish history - the two I'd start with are Empire: How Spain Became a World Power, 1492-1763 and The Disinherited; Exile and the Making of Spanish Culture, 1492-1975. One is politically-focused, the other culturally, and together they make up a workably comprehensive overview of those centuries. I find his writing quite digestible, although it's definitely historiographical.
If you're looking for a introductory narrative, try The Story of Spain by Mark Williams. It's a pretty broad and basic history, more popular than academic, but it's a good entry - hopefully it will raise your interest enough in certain events or periods to read into them further! Another very readable introduction is Bradley Smith's Spain: A History in Art, which is a timeline that covers pre-history right through to the republic and the restoration, accompanied by the art of the respective periods.
My area of interest is Spanish art, so if you're interested in that side of history I can offer more focused recommendations! But the ones listed above would be my choice for a general starting point.