Castilian Days

Castilian Days is a travelogue written by John Hay, an American diplomat and writer, detailing his experiences during a trip to Spain in the late 19th century. The book is divided into chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of Spanish culture, history, and society. Hay describes his encounters with the people he meets, including peasants, aristocrats, and artists, and provides vivid descriptions of the landscapes, architecture, and art he observes. He also reflects on the political and social issues of the time, such as the tension between the central government and regional autonomy movements. Through his observations and reflections, Hay offers a unique perspective on Spain and its people, providing readers with a glimpse into a world that no longer exists. Castilian Days is a classic work of travel literature that continues to be widely read and enjoyed today.One does not soon forget the first sight of the full coliseum. In the centre is the sanded arena, surrounded by a high barrier. Around this rises the graded succession of stone benches for the people; then numbered seats for the connoisseurs; and above a row of boxes extending around the circle. The building holds, when full, some fourteen thousand persons; and there is rarely any vacant space. For myself I can say that what I vainly strove to imagine in the coliseum at Rome, and in the more solemn solitude of the amphitheatres of Capua and Pompeii, came up before me with the vividness of life on entering the bull-ring of Madrid. This, and none other, was the classic arena.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.