Sir Raymond Carr, for many years Warden of St Antony's College, Oxford, was in 1999 honoured by Spain with the prestigious Prince of Asturias prize. He is a corresponding member of The Spanish Royal Academy of History and a doctor honoris causa of the Complutense University of Madrid. His publications include Modern Spain 1875-1980, Spain 1805-1975 (Oxford History of Modern Europe), and The Spainish Tragedy: Civil War in Perspective.

• Preface ; 1. Prehistoric and Roman Spain ; 2. Visigothic Spain ; 3. The Early Middle Ages ; 4. The Late Middle Ages ; 5. The Improbable Empire ; 6. Vicissitudes of a World Power, 1500-1700 ; 7. Flow and Ebb, 1700-1833 ; 8. 1833-1931 ; 9. Spain from 1931 to the Present

Although each chapter stands alone well, together, presented in chronological order, they provide an excellent overview of the history of a country and its people, the political and social occurrences that have shaped nation and empire, and the cultural and intellectual contribution made by its citizens. Lists of further reading - again, divided by historical period - enable those whose interest has been sparked to study further on the subject.