Pagan Spain by Richard Wright A powerful portrait of a country caught between past and present. In Pagan Spain, acclaimed American author Richard Wright turns his sharp, observant eye toward 1950s Spain—then under the rule of Francisco Franco. Traveling through the country in search of its soul, Wright uncovers a land of paradox: deeply religious yet rooted in ancient, pagan customs; politically repressed yet culturally vibrant; outwardly conservative yet haunted by centuries of brutal conflict and change. Blending travel writing with social commentary, Pagan Spain is not merely a journey through geography, but through ideas, history, and identity. Wright’s encounters—with bullfighters, peasants, clerics, and intellectuals—reveal the complex interplay between tradition and authoritarianism, freedom and fear. Written with his signature clarity and conviction, Pagan Spain is a bold and timeless work of cultural exploration.
