Spaniards in Europe : Spanish Writers and Modernity (1833-1868)

Through several travel books written during the reign of Elizabeth II, this article analyzes how Spanish men of letters perceived the new phenomena associated with modernity. Three lines of analysis are observed in these books: the rejection of the clichés about Spain created by foreign travelers, the mentality of the inhabitants and fragmentary perception of the modern city. Finally, these writers proposed regeneration projects for Spain in the light of European example without losing national identity