Description

Book Synopsis
Diane knew nothing about the Spanish Civil War, and the only thing she knew about the dictator Franco was that Alberto, the worldly, successful Spanish engineer she wanted to marry, called him "benevolent." Set in the 1960s and 70s, the adventure of this Spanish/American marriage during the final years of the Franco regime could only be told by someone who lived it. And for the most part loved it. Diane filled her letters home with happy anecdotes about affectionate in-laws, a fascinating language, the Byzantine bureaucracy, and doormen she thought were out to get her. But underneath the comfortable exterior lingered vague images of Franco's police and ghosts of the Civil War—the war no one spoke about, or mentioned only superficially, except for Alberto, who had recounted his harrowing experience as a teenager fleeing the siege of Madrid. It was Alberto's increasingly alarming behavior that made her fear for her marriage, and ultimately made her fear for the safety of her daughters. When she saw no other way out, she dealt with the fear the only way she knew how. The story is told with humor and heartache and an enduring love for Spain.

Without a Second Thought: A Memoir of Life in

    Product form

    £15.15

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £15.95 – you save £0.80 (5%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Fri 31 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Diane Lorz Benitez

    15 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Without a Second Thought: A Memoir of Life in by Diane Lorz Benitez

      Publisher: Amphorae Publishing Group, LLC
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 18/10/2022
      ISBN13: 9781940442440, 978-1940442440
      ISBN10: 1940442443
      Also in:
      Biography: general

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Diane knew nothing about the Spanish Civil War, and the only thing she knew about the dictator Franco was that Alberto, the worldly, successful Spanish engineer she wanted to marry, called him "benevolent." Set in the 1960s and 70s, the adventure of this Spanish/American marriage during the final years of the Franco regime could only be told by someone who lived it. And for the most part loved it. Diane filled her letters home with happy anecdotes about affectionate in-laws, a fascinating language, the Byzantine bureaucracy, and doormen she thought were out to get her. But underneath the comfortable exterior lingered vague images of Franco's police and ghosts of the Civil War—the war no one spoke about, or mentioned only superficially, except for Alberto, who had recounted his harrowing experience as a teenager fleeing the siege of Madrid. It was Alberto's increasingly alarming behavior that made her fear for her marriage, and ultimately made her fear for the safety of her daughters. When she saw no other way out, she dealt with the fear the only way she knew how. The story is told with humor and heartache and an enduring love for Spain.

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account