Targeted at both intrepid travellers and ‘readers at home’, this two-volume account of Spanish history, topography and culture by Richard Ford (1796-1858) combines the rigour of a gazetteer with the humour and pace of a private travel diary. First published in 1845, as part of John Murray’s series of guidebooks, the work made an immediate impact upon the reading public. Within days it was celebrated in the press as the ‘most comprehensive and accurate account of that country’ hitherto produced. Through a series of hand-picked routes, readers encounter the varied landscapes and cultures of Spain’s distinct regions. Volume 1 leads the reader from Cadiz in Andalucia to Granada and on to Catalonia. Volume 2 takes in Leon, Galicia and the Basque provinces. The result is an engaging account that will be of interest to modern tourists and historians alike.