Fantastic discounts on the best books about Spain
SPAIN -- The reason this piece is datelined 'Spain' instead of Mijas-Pueblo, where they're based, is that the news that Santana Books is closing at the end of the year will affect English-speakers all over the country. Self-described as Publishers of Essential Books on Spain, they (and the authors) have given us some of the best books on the country anywhere. Titles include You and the Law in Spain (by David Searle), now in its 16th updated edition, I believe, and a veritable bible on the convoluted laws of hereabouts. Other titles: A Guide to Wild Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar (by John Butler), Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style (by Clodagh and Dick Handscombe) ... you can
check them out here; they're offering
fantastic discounts on most of them, so get moving!
The company's history begins with Lookout Magazine, which was
the English magazine, especially in the South of Spain. The publisher, Alan Roberts, probably decided that book publishing was less stressful than running a monthly magazine (can't think why). Whatever that may be, the first book I bought from the new venture was Janet Mendel's
Cooking in Spain, back in the early 1990s and which I still use. It is through Janet that I heard with sorrow about the demise of the publishing house, so I take the opportunity to say thank you to Alan Roberts and the many people who have worked with him for such a long time.
Very sad news - hopefully somebody can be found to buy them out and keep the brand alive. Their Spanish Verb book is the best and most useful book I've ever bought.
ReplyDeleteFrom Valerie Collins, via Writers on Spain: "I've just read your blog post about Santana and was a bit surprised but prefer to comment in private. Alan Roberts and his wife Gertrude took over Santana just when we were about to pitch our book to Santana. This must have been 2005. Before then Santana was run by a British couple who were retiring, and, as I remember Alan telling us, he and Gertrud were looking for a house in the area, taking early retirement, saw the publisher'a for sale, and decided to have a go. As far as I know the Roberts had nothing to do with Lookout Magazine and weren't even in Spain at the time. I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the editor of Lookout who we dealt with back in the 90s.
ReplyDeleteJust felt I should set the record straight. Saludos, Valerie"
Thank you for putting me right, Valerie! It's all so long ago now ... still sad news no?