The Bible in Spain - Tapa dura

The Bible in Spain, subtitled "or the Journey, Adventures, and Imprisonment of an Englishman in an Attempt to Circulate the Scriptures in the Peninsula" published in London in 1843 is the most famous work of George Borrow (1803-1881). It was so popular it ran through several editions even outselling Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843).

The work is unique among contemporary books describing Spain because it relates numerous unusual personal encounters Borrow had with Spaniards from the prime minister to beggars and frequent encounters with Gypsies. This was the first widely-read book with accurate first-hand information on Gypsies (though more completely described in his first work The Zincali (1841), it was not a commercial success). All this took place during the Carlist Civil War during which time few people travelled as much in Spain.

Prosper Merimee was moved to write his story Carmen (the source for Bizet's opera) as a result of reading in the book a story about a man on whom Merimee based don Jose. (Quote from wikipedia.org)

About the Author

George Henry Borrow (1803 - 1881)
George Henry Borrow (5 July 1803 - 26 July 1881) was an English author who wrote novels and travelogues based on his own experiences around Europe. Over the course of his wanderings, he developed a close affinity with the Romani people of Europe, and they figure prominently in his work. His best known book, Lavengro, is largely autobiographical.

Borrow was born at East Dereham, Norfolk, the son of an Army recruiting officer, Thomas Borrow (1758-1824), and farmer's daughter, Ann Perfrement (1772-1858), and had a somewhat wandering childhood with a military father, for example in Ireland. He was educated at the Royal High School of Edinburgh and No