Spain Is Different

Seven years after the publication of the first edition, Spain is still different, but it is changing, too -- modernizing rapidly and participating as an active member of the European Union. While thoroughly updating her original work, Helen Wattley-Ames has maintained her focus in describing the uniqueness of both the Spanish people and their culture and on examining what effect the differences have on the way Spaniards and Americans relate to and interact with each other. She looks at how Spain has evolved from a travel destination, as source of "sun and cheap wine," to a dynamic modern society. She depicts a people proud of their accomplishments, yet working hard to maintain valued traditions in the face of increased buying power and more European and American influence.

Helen Wattley-Ames lived in Barcelona, Spain, where she worked at the Instituto de Estudios Norteamericanos and experienced firsthand the interaction of Spaniards and Americans. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she is fluent in Spanish and received her bachelor's degree in Spanish language and literature at the University of Bristol in England