The Authors: Julia L. Ortiz-Griffin teaches Spanish language and literature in the City University of New York. After post-graduate study at the University of Madrid, she received her Ph.D. in Spanish Literature at New York University. She is the author of numerous articles in English and in Spanish and of four books, including Drama y Sociedad en la Obra de Benavente.William D. Griffin, Professor of History at St. John’s University, New York, is the author of some three dozen articles and six books on various aspects of Western European political and military affairs.

«Wise and well written, this book tells us more than any other I know about post-Franco Spain in all its dimensions. A skillful blending of cultural insight with political and social analysis, it contains much that is new even for the experienced teacher of Iberian civilization. It belongs in the hands of every student of contemporary Spain and Portugal.» (María Victoria Morales, Professor of Spanish Language and Literature, Catholic University, Ponce, Puerto Rico)«I wish this book had been available before my recent travels in Spain and Portugal. It combines a clear picture of contemporary life with a sense of how things got to be the way they are. I recommend it to everyone who plans to visit Iberia so that the journey will be a truly well-rounded experience.» (Robert J. Phillips)«As a teacher of Spanish language and literature, I have long felt the need for a book that could provide an understanding of the rich civilization that lies behind the words and phrases. Spain and Portugal Today combines a clear picture of contemporary life with a profound awareness of how that civilization evolved over the centuries.» (Delfina Fernández McLean, Professor of Spanish Language and Literature, City University of New York)«As an educator devoted to the promotion of cultural awareness, I am delighted with the rich appreciation of the Iberian heritage revealed in this book. My husband and I, both natives of Spain, who revisit our homeland annually, have witnessed the many changes taking place there in recent years. We are impressed with the sophisticated analysis and wide-ranging knowledge of the new Spain that the authors have at their command.» (Carmen Lombas-García, Executive Director, Amigos de la Zarzuela)