El Generalisimo (Giles Tremlett)

Giles Tremlett’s El Generalísimo is a well-researched biography of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, explaining his rise from an unremarkable military officer to one of Europe’s longest ruling dictators.

Franco was an enigma to some degree - fascist by many definitions, at minimum a nationalist dictator that fused a strong religious dogma within state convention. Spain struggled to recover from its Civil War in the 1930’s, mostly because of Franco’s policies, until a monetary bailout plus increasing affluence in Europe helped drive tourism and exports, almost both by accident. In the wake of Franco’s death in 1975, the Spanish monarchy was restored and Juan Carlos I quickly brought about changes to ensure representative government and modernization within Spain. Tremlett covers not only Franco’s life but the aftermath of his rule with effective, balanced coverage.

Tremlett explains complex military and political developments in Spain in the early 20th Century  to help readers understand why the political environment was such that someone like Franco was able to take control of Spain’s government. One of the book’s greatest strengths is Tremlett’s argument that Franco’s rise to power and enduring control of the Spanish government came less from his personal charisma or fervent ideology and more from patience, discipline, and an ability to outlast rivals. This interpretation challenges the idea that Franco’s rise was inevitable, emphasizing how chance events, especially the Spanish Civil War and specific events within the war itself, played a decisive role in ensuring Franco took over as Caudillo of Spain.

Overall, El Generalísimo is an engaging and insightful biography that offers a nuanced understanding of Franco and the conditions that enabled his rise, making it valuable for both students and general readers interested in Spanish history.

MY RATING: 4.5

Isabella of Castile (Giles Tremlett)

Isabella of Castille: Europe’s First Great Queen is a thorough profile of the Spanish monarch mostly known for financing the voyages of Christopher Columbus to the Caribbean in the 1490’s and 1500’s.  However, Isabella was a much more prominent monarch in European history.  Along with her husband Ferdinand, she was responsible for joining much of what is now Spain under one kingdom, unifying it through marriage and then through military and political conquest of the Moors in Southern Spain.

Giles Tremlett’s chronicle of Isabella is thorough but probably a little too lengthy to keep most readers' interest the entire time.  There is quite a lot of inside information about the political interweaving between the Roman church and European politics in the 15^th Century, briefly touching on the corruption within and outside of the Church that fueled the Reformation and development of Protestant denominations in the 16^th Century.  Isabella fought for a more pious church and nation, helping unify disparate confederacies and kingdoms into a singular state that dominated world politics for a century after her passing.

Tremlett’s book is generally fair in its approach, mentioning the negatives of Isabella’s lengthy reign in contrast to the strong points.  These conflicts worked to make Isabella an intriguing and interesting queen, traits that are not always seen among the great monarchs of European history.  Her rule was instrumental in setting the stage for our modern life in the Western Hemisphere through her desire to globalize and colonize foreign lands in pursuit of wealth and faith.  Tremlett astutely mentions that despite her strength in bringing Spain together as one geographic entity, it took centuries for the country to fully unify, and this slow, quarrelsome process was a contributing factor in the gradual decline of the Spanish Empire over time.  Isabella may have been a strong, powerful monarch, but her successors were not able to fulfill her vision.

MY RATING - 3