España 1900/20 vs. 1980/2000: la modernización vista por viajeros y observadores germanohablantes

Abstract

The article deals with the impression German-speaking travellers and observers gained of the early 20th century Spain; an impoverished country that was leaving behind a deep national crisis and was facing many other crisis. This situation is compared to the impression of Spain between seventy and ninety years later, which is much more positive in every aspect. The present article is supported by a legacy of written documents (diaries, articles, letters, reports, books). In the first two decades of the former century the writers showed a backward country and at times even in some aspects of the country a non-european character. However, there are exceptions such as Rilke, Thelen and w. Krauss. The modern perception of Spain during 1990 and 2000 might be excessively positive at times.