The Sword of Luchana

Adrian Shubert's historical biography of the enigmatic figure of General Espartero is an innovative and sweeping re-telling of Spain's tumultuous nineteenth century, told from the perspective of Spain's first public celebrity and, equally important, that of his impressive wife. Shubert builds on revisionist nineteenth-century historiography about liberalism, nationalization, and gender to weave a relevant and compelling story of a life and a time worth remembering. - Pamela Radcliff, Professor and Chair of the Department of History, University of California, San Diego This is a thorough biography of the most influential general in nineteenth-century Spanish politics. An early mixture of charismatic leadership and populism, General Espartero embodied both patriotic feelings and defense of the constitutional monarchy against absolutism. - Jose Alvarez Junco, Professor Emeritus of the History of Thought and Political and Social Movements, Complutense University of Madrid With this book, Adrian Shubert revendicates not only the figure of Baldomero Espartero but also the often misunderstood and neglected, especially in the English-speaking world, image of nineteenth-century Spain. This is a true tour de force of an ambitious, restless, and always original historian. - Antonio Cazorla-Sanchez, Professor of History, Trent University