SKU: 6752840683

Un Pueblo Traicionado / A People Betrayed: A History of Corruption, Political Incompetence and Social Division in Modern Spain

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Un Pueblo Traicionado / A People Betrayed: A History of Corruption, Political Incompetence and Social Division in Modern SpainLa historia del siglo XX espaol contada por el eminente hispanista Paul Preston. Un pueblo traicionado es una historia contempornea de Espaa escrita por un historiador britnico que ama este pas y que lleva cincuenta aos estudiando su pasado. Nuestra rica y trgica historia permite muchas aproximaciones; este libro no cae en interpretaciones paternalistas o excepcionalistas, pero sigue las deficiencias de la clase poltica espaola entre la restauracin

La historia del siglo XX español contada por el eminente hispanista Paul Preston.

Un pueblo traicionado es una historia contemporánea de España escrita por un historiador británico que ama este país y que lleva cincuenta años estudiando su pasado.

Nuestra rica y trágica historia permite muchas aproximaciones; este libro no cae en interpretaciones paternalistas o excepcionalistas, pero sigue las deficiencias de la clase política española entre la restauración borbónica de 1874 en la figura de Alfonso XII y el comienzo del reinado de su tataranieto Felipe VI en 2014.

El resultado es un recorrido completo y equilibrado que subraya inevitablemente cómo el progreso del país ha sido obstaculizado por la corrupción y la incompetencia política, y cómo esos dos factores han provocado en repetidas ocasiones el colapso de la cohesión social y la represión violenta por parte de las autoridades. Una historia que entrelaza los temas de la influencia del Ejército y de la Iglesia, el rechazo popular a las clases dirigentes, el amargo conflicto social, el atraso económico y las tensiones territoriales, y que los sitúa en su contexto internacional.

Así pasamos de la desesperación de la crisis de 1898 a momentos de optimismo y progreso en que la realidad social lograba actuar sobre el poder político, hasta llegar a la situación actual, de un pesimismo similar al de finales del siglo XIX.

Los pueblos que no conocen su historia están condenados a repetirla, por eso este libro es de lectura obligatoria.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Nowhere does the ceaseless struggle to maintain democracy in the face of political corruption come more alive than in Paul Preston's magisterial history of modern Spain.

The culmination of a half-century of historical investigation, A People Betrayed is not only a definitive history of modern Spain but also a compelling narrative that becomes a lens for understanding the challenges that virtually all democracies have faced in the modern world.

Whereas so many twentieth-century Spanish histories begin with Franco and the devastating Civil War, Paul Preston's magisterial work begins in the late nineteenth century with Spain's collapse as a global power, especially reflected in its humiliating defeat in 1898 at the hands of the United States and its loss of colonial territory.

This loss hung over Spain in the early years of the twentieth century, its agrarian economic base standing in stark contrast to the emergence of England, Germany, and France as industrial powers. Looking back to the years prior to 1923, Preston demonstrates how electoral corruption infiltrated almost every sector of Spanish life, thus excluding the masses from organized politics and giving them a bitter choice between apathetic acceptance of a decrepit government or violent revolution. So ineffective was the Republic―which had been launched in 1873―that it paved the way for a military coup and dictatorship, led by Miguel Primo de Rivera in 1923, exacerbating widespread profiteering and fraud. When Rivera was forced to resign in 1930, his fall brought forth a succession of feeble governments, stoking rancorous tensions that culminated in the tragic Spanish Civil War.

With astonishing detail, Preston describes the ravages that rent Spain in half between 1936 and 1939. Tracing the frightening rise of Francisco Franco, Preston recounts how Franco grew into Spain's most powerful military leader during the Civil War and how, after the war, he became a fascistic dictator who not only terrorized the Spanish population through systematic oppression and murder but also enriched corrupt officials who profited from severe economic plunder of Spain's working class.

The dictatorship lasted through World War II―during which Spain sided with Mussolini and Hitler―and only ended decades later, in 1975, when Franco's death was followed by a painful yet bloodless transition to republican democracy. Yet, as Preston reveals, corruption and political incompetence continued to have a corrosive effect on social cohesion into the twenty-first century, as economic crises, Catalan independence struggles, and financial scandals persist in dividing the country.

Filled with vivid portraits of politicians and army officers, revolutionaries and reformers, and written in the "absorbing" (Economist) style for which Preston is so revered, A People Betrayed is the first historical work to examine the continuities of political unrest and national anxiety in Spain up until the present, providing a chilling reminder of just how fragile democracy remains in the twenty-first century.


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Dave L
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Very Comfortable
Size: 10.5, Color: Black Grainy
This slip on is superb. Very comfortable, light, quality material that makes it great for all day wear and driving around experience
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Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2025
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Nolan
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 3
Quality Shoe, but slight design issue
Size: 10, Color: Tan Napa, Size: 10, Color: Tan Napa
I like the way these fit and feel. I normally wear a size 10, and these are a 10. Very comfortable to walk in. I think they're stylish enough to wear with jeans or chinos. The leather is nice quality. However, the issue I am noticing, only a few days into wearing these (I've worn 3 times) is that the bottom material doesn't come forward far enough. The tip of the shoe juts out and as you walk the tip rolls forward on to the ground surface and is wearing away at the leather. I mean, I've only wore these 3 times and I am getting major concerns about their durability. I would choose another shoe if I could go back, as these are an indoor shoe only as they're currently designed.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2024
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Philippe
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 4
Nice looking
Size: 11, Color: Cognac Grainy
I normally wear an 11.5 (including other Marc Jacob’s- including this make from 2024). The shoes are a pretty soft leather. I had to return for a size 11 which feels slightly tight but now, through experience, I know will stretch. I wear these shoes almost every day in black or brown They look great. Note, these shoes (because all leather) wear out relatively quickly, especially the front. I keep a fake leather Pair (almost identical looking) which are not nearly as comfortable (I don’t take walks in them) but look better for dinners etc.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2025
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Amazon_Customer
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
The "Lazy Professional" Look: Is Hands-Free Luxury Actually Real?
Size: 9.5, Color: Black Napa Leather
Living down here in Florida, my footwear needs are pretty specific. It’s hot, it’s humid, and I spent half my life rushing from the car into work or a meeting. I’ve reached that age where I value efficiency just as much as style—maybe more. I’ve been eyeing the Marc Joseph New York Hands-Free Slip-on Penny Loafers for a while, and after putting them through the wringer, here is the honest truth from someone who just wants to look sharp without the hassle. The "Just Step-In" Reality Look, the big selling point here is the "Hands-Free" tech. We’ve all seen the commercials for those athletic slip-ins, but finding that in a legitimate leather penny loafer is a different game. Does it work? Yes, surprisingly well. The heel counter is firm enough that it doesn’t collapse when you slide your foot in, but it doesn’t feel like a piece of plastic digging into your Achilles once you’re in. For those of us who are tired of bending over or hunting for a shoehorn every morning, this is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade. The Florida Factor: Comfort and Style The leather is actual calfskin (on most models), which is a must for the Florida heat. Synthetic shoes turn into a sauna within ten minutes, but these breathe reasonably well. The aesthetic is classic—it’s a "professor" shoe through and through. You can wear them with chinos and a blazer for work or throw them on with some nice jeans for a weekend lunch. Inside, they’ve got a gel heel insert and a padded footbed. It’s not quite "walking on a cloud"—let’s not over-hype it—but it’s a massive step up from the hard, flat soles of traditional dress loafers. I’ve spent four hours on my feet lecturing, and my arches didn’t hate me by the end of the day. The Sizing Gamble Here’s where you need to be careful. The consensus from other guys (and my own experience) is that the sizing is a bit of a coin toss. They tend to run a little large and sometimes wide. If you have narrow feet, you might find the sides "gaping" or flaring out when you walk, which kills the sleek look. I’d recommend ordering a half-size down if you’re usually between sizes. The Breakdown The Pros: True Hands-Free: You can actually put these on while holding a coffee and a briefcase. No hands needed. Legit Materials: The calf leather feels premium and smells like the real deal. Versatility: Perfectly bridges the gap between a "car shoe" and a formal loafer. Comfort: The gel insert makes a noticeable difference for long-duration wear. The Cons: Sizing Inconsistency: They can run wide, leading to some "heel slip" if you don't get the perfect fit. Break-in Period: The heel is stiff by design (to allow for the slip-on feature), so expect a day or two of minor stiffness. Price Point: They aren't cheap, though often on sale. Value for Money Are they worth it? If you’re comparing them to high-end Italian brands that cost $500, these are an absolute steal. They look 90% as good for a fraction of the price. However, if you're used to $60 mall shoes, the jump to $150+ might feel steep until you realize you’re paying for the convenience of never having to touch your shoes to put them on. For a daily driver in a professional setting, the value is definitely there.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2026
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Edward A. Cleveland
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Step In Look Good
Size: 11.5, Color: Cognac Napa Leather
I am wearing these shoes as I write this review, and they look and feel great. I have a bit of a disability with drop foot on the right leg and bilateral neuropathy and have been wearing step in shoes for about 10 years. But the first company that introduced leather dress and casual shoes stopped making them and now only makes sport and casual shoes. So I have been searching for some that meet my need for shoes like this and this company has given me three pairs, so far. Easy to get into, comfortable to wear, and good looking. And they take polish very well, too. (Remember how to do that?). We may buy another pair or two in different styles as well.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2026

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