The Bible in Spain facts for kids

The Bible in Spain is an exciting travel book written by a British author named George Borrow (1803–1881). It was published in London in 1843 and quickly became very popular. In this book, Borrow shares his adventures traveling through Spain between 1835 and 1838. During this time, Spain was going through a difficult period called the Carlist Civil War. Borrow's job was to sell Bibles for the Bible Society. However, his work faced a lot of challenges from the Roman Catholic Church and from Spanish leaders.

What is The Bible in Spain About?

Borrow's book, which he called "a song of wild Spain," was based on his own travel journals and notes. He also used reports he sent back to the Bible Society. His journey began in Lisbon, a city in Portugal. From there, he rode on horseback through places like Elvas and Badajoz before reaching Madrid, the capital of Spain.

Borrow's Mission in Spain

In Madrid, George Borrow talked with important government officials, including Prime Ministers Mendizábal and Istúriz. He wanted to get permission to print and share a Spanish version of the New Testament. He had help from the British ambassador, George Villiers.

After getting some permission, Borrow traveled across northern Spain. He handed out copies of the Bible and tried to find local people who could help him continue his work. When he returned to Madrid, he opened a bookshop to sell the Bibles. However, the authorities soon closed it down.

Challenges and Discoveries

Borrow then printed his own translation of St. Luke's Gospel in the Caló language, which is spoken by the Romani people (often called Gypsies) in Spain. He was even put in prison for a short time in Madrid because of his activities. During his travels in Spain, he sometimes got sick and had to return to England twice. In the end, his work was stopped, and he left Spain for Tangier, a city in Morocco, which is where his book finishes.

The book shares many stories of the people Borrow met in Spain. These included everyone from prime ministers to beggars, and also Gypsies and people who secretly practiced Judaism. The Bible in Spain was one of the first popular books to give accurate, firsthand information about the Romani people. He had written more about them in an earlier book called The Zincalí (published in 1841), but it wasn't as successful.

How The Bible in Spain Made a Difference

The success of The Bible in Spain helped make people in Britain more interested in the work of colporteurs. These are people who travel around to distribute religious books. This activity became a very important focus for the Bible Society in the mid-1800s.

Inspiring Other Writers

The way George Borrow described Romani life in his book influenced other writers. For example, the final chapter of Prosper Mérimée's short story Carmen (which later became the famous Bizet opera) has many similarities to Borrow's descriptions. Mérimée knew about Borrow's writings and even commented on them.

Another book, In the Footsteps of George Borrow by Guy Arnold (ISBN: 1904955371), is a travel book where the author follows the same journey Borrow took in The Bible in Spain.

Famous authors also enjoyed Borrow's work. James Norman Hall, who co-wrote The Bounty Trilogy, took Borrow’s The Bible in Spain with him on a long sea voyage from Tahiti to Pitcairn Island. Even Robert Louis Stevenson, known for "Travels with a Donkey", carried The Bible in Spain with him on his own adventures.

See also

• Bible translations into Spanish
• Protestantism in Spain