Late C19th Spanish quasi-realism sometimes reads more like Flashman than Zola. Here is a fairly random translation of a not entirely random excerpt from Un viaje de novios, a fine romance (mashed potato plot and all) written by minor aristocrat Emilia Pardo Bazán (1851-1921) during a stay in Vichy and published in 1881:

The author seems to be referring to the third Carlist war (1872-76), which is sometimes called the second Carlist war because the Catalans cheated and started the real second one (1846-49) before everyone else was ready. Some obstinate souls claim that number three was in fact number six, but the freemasons have promised to ensure that no one publishes their books. More on guiris, bourgeois scribblers and the Welsh connection some other time.

Meanwhile, you may wish to consult Pep Rovira’s fine list (Catalan; English hack) of other Spanish post-Napoleonic wars. As La Vanguardia eulogised in 1945, and as secondary school history students here will quietly acknowledge, Franco did at least put an end to Spain’s unfortunate habit of getting involved in a war every 5-10 years.

Categories: Liberals & locals, Theatre

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1. Geoff
   December 11th 2003 09:55

   Last para. What bout
   1) Division Azul
   2) maquis
   3) ETA

   What the hell are carcas?

2. kalebeul
   March 14th 2005 22:42 Galdós and those spud-crazy guiris
   Where did he get that vernacular?