This book is the first single volume history of modern Spain to
appear in over 30 years. It describes Spain's emergence in the
nineteenth century as the first modern post-imperial power and
examines the vast social and economic changes which Spain witnessed
during this period. In lucid and accessible prose, the author
provides a gripping account of 131 years of politics, warfare and
social conflict.

Charles Esdaile places particular emphasis on crucial periods in
the history of modern Spain. He shows how nineteenth century Spain
was in many ways shaped by the Peninsular War of 1804-18, as the
politicization of the army during this conflict cast a shadow over
the century-long political struggle between liberalism and
absolutism. Esdaile also demonstrates that the years between 1868
and 1874 were a watershed in the history of modern Spain. During
this time the social and political changes of the century were
consolidated and Spain emerged as a constitutional monarchy.
Providing a riveting account of the events of the Spanish Civil War
of 1936-39, this book shows that the result of the brutal struggle
between the nationalists and republicans was the preservation of
the social and economic order that had arisen in the nineteenth
century.

Blending analysis with narrative, Charles Esdaile allows the
reader to understand nineteenth century Spain on its own terms and
to see how the seeds of the civil war of 1936-39 were sown by the
failure of liberalism in the previous century.