Bücher - Autoren

Andrew Benson

Amazon. co. uk
When you first arrive in Argentina, it is difficult to believe that you are in a different continent, since Buenos Aires is reminiscent of Paris and most people are of European origin. But although it is the least foreign South American destination to many visitors, this vast country is one of the most intriguing. Geographically, it ranges from the Patagonian ice-fields to the tropics. Argentine culture is also rich: the writers Borgés, Cortazar and Juan Filloy-one of the world's greatest ever creators of palindromes-all graced Argentina in the 20th century, as did the tango, Evita and Maradona. This is the world's eighth largest country, one behind India-but whereas India's population is 1 billion, the Argentines number only 35 million.
Because of its immensity, it is probably impossible to write the perfect guide to Argentina, but this Rough Guide is an admirable attempt. The Lonely Planet book is good on the south but its coverage of the western and northern regions (among the most interesting parts of the country) is patchy. This new book has superb coverage of Buenos Aires, the Pampas, the west, the north and the Andean side of Patagonia-although along the bleak (but not uninteresting) Patagonian coast it is a little less strong. Perhaps the authors were tired out by the time they reached this part of the country and if so this minor flaw should certainly not detract from a book that is excellent on many practical details and on culture, with first-rate sections on history, the gaucho and mat´ written by people who know their stuff. -< I> Toby Green

Benvinguts a Barcelona! Stolz und selbstbewusst heißt uns die meerzugewandte Hauptstadt Kataloniens willkommen. Immerhin wetteifert sie äußerst erfolgreich mit der fern im Binnenland gelegenen Residenz Madrid. Und seit gegen Ende der siebziger Jahre auch in Spanien Regionalisierung und Autonomisierung an Kraft gewonnen haben, hat Barcelona guten Grund, sich als Drehscheibe eines blühenden Wirtschafts- und Kulturlebens zu fühlen. Es sind vor allem zwei Epochen, die das unverwechselbare Stadtbild prägen: zum einen die Gotik, in der das Altstadtzentrum und die Kathedrale entstanden ist, und zum anderen das späte neunzehnte Jahrhundert, dessen beispielloser wirtschaftlicher Wohlstand in atemberaubend kurzer Zeit eine planmäßig angelegte Neustadt entstehen ließ.